Human Dog Connection Do dogs sense their owners feelings

I talk a great deal about the human/dog bond. It is one of the reasons that I think walking your dog regularly is important.

People who have been around dogs for any length of time may begin to notice that the dog can sense your feelings. They can sense when we are sick. Most of the time when I am sick, Copper acts remarkably different. He stays physically closer to me than usual. I have noticed this with many dogs that I have had the pleasure of living with over the years.

Dogs can also sense our frustration. This is one reason that I encourage people to keep training sessions short and to end on a high note. If you get frustrated with the dog, he will sense that and become more stressed likely heightening your frustration. This soon becomes a vicious downward spiral.

I think my dogs can also sense when I am irritable or feel down. They certainly act differently. Copper really gives me a wide berth, so to speak, when he senses that I am angry, irritable, or just feel a little down.

I bring this up because, in training, it is important that you be in the correct mindset. If you have other concerns that are causing you stress or making you angry, try to do the training work with your dog when you are a little more relaxed and less stressed. It will make things more pleasant for you and your canine buddy!

You know, dogs are really pretty incredible animals. I have noticed over the years that my dogs have been very sensitive to weather changes. If a bad thunderstorm is coming, I can usually tell hours before it arrives just by carefully watching the behavior of my dogs. If you know what to look for it is easy. I have said before that dogs are very much routine oriented animals. If I see my dogs voluntarily breaking their routine, something is always causing it. Sometimes it is a change in the weather.

Well I hope you are all having a great week!

I am finally starting to feel a little better and am getting some work done.

Remember if you would like to talk about your dogs behavioral issues, I am always available. Feel free to contact me.

Till next time 

-William-

William Moore

William Moore Canine Training

fayettedogtrainer@gmail.com

678-702-4791

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Why Is Dog Training The very best Thing We Can Do For Our Pet dogs

Were always told how essential it is to train our dogs, however what exactly is dog training and why is it so essential anyhow?

The following list discusses why it is absolutely important that we provide proper socialization and training to our canine friends.

Please read these 5 undeniable reasons why we owe it to our canines to practice them:.

Dog training helps to develop and enhance a productive and healthy relationship with your canine.
Dog training opens up the lines of communication between you and your canine. A real type of two method communication is established through favorable non violent dog training. You and your canine will discover to interact with each other in an equally considerate manner, based on co-operation and understanding.
A well mingled and practiced dog will become a fantastic life-long buddy, work companion and friend. An untrained dog can rapidly become a burden and a limitless source of aggravation. Instead of having an uneven relationship where you are continuously chewing out or reprimanding your inexperienced canine, why not set your dog up to succeed by supplying some leadership and clear guidelines for him/her to follow?
A qualified dog is a well appreciated and trusted member of society who is welcomed virtually anywhere. This has to be a favorable thing for your relationship does not it?
Training avoids many usual "pet dog issues" from ever arising.
A whole array of typical dog behavior troubles can be avoided through some obedience training. Pet dogs are creatures of practice so why not utilize this to your advantage by helping your canine to establish etiquette routines from a very early age? If you are proactive and established some easy standards and regimens for your puppy to follow you may never ever need to deal with devastating behaviors such as digging, chewing, extreme barking as well as separation stress and anxiety.
You may even pick to get your canine to perform an alternate habits in location of the existing trouble. An example of this would be if your pet dog was up surfing your counter tops for food scraps you might get him/her to "go to your area" instead.
The substantial bulk of "bad pet dogs" or pet dogs with behavior problems eventuate because the dog has actually never been instructed any much better. Many probably if you offered a delicious chew toy and did some chew toy training then your dog would be even more than delighted to chew on the toy only.
An experienced pet dog is also a pleasure to consider a walk (no pulling!) and trips to your Veterinarian or Pet dog Groomer are never an issue.
Practicing your dog is a required safety measure for you, your canine and everything that comes into contact with your dog.
Having your pet dog under voice control in any scenario is an extremely comforting position to be in - it may even save your pet dogs life one day. If your canine is about to bolt out onto a hectic roadway or get something hazardous it is terrific to be able to instantly step in and alter their behavior with an obedience training command such as "no", "come" or "leave it".
An appropriately socialized and practiced canine is a much safer proposal around other dogs and animals. Dog training plays an important duty in informing your dog how to act appropriately around yourself, your youngsters and visitors to your home.
An experienced dog is confident, comfortable and safe and secure with his/her area in your home.
A well qualified canine appreciates the support, structure and boundaries you provide with training. Its far much better than having a worried, anxious and baffled dog who is continuously being chewed out for things he/she doesnt even comprehend. Practicing relieves much of the disappointment and tension that exists in between you and your dog.
Practicing sets up appropriate family rules for your dog to follow. It deals with such issues as bolting out the front door, chewing, jumping up on visitors and extreme barking.
Dog training offers a great release or outlet for all of your dogs pent up energy. This energy has to come out in one method or another so why not carry it into something efficient like obedience training?

A trained dogs life takes a far various course to that of an inexperienced dog.
The majority of dogs that end up in animal shelters arrive there due to the fact that they have at least one habits trouble - numerous of these problems can be quickly controlled with some basic obedience training. Behaviors such as jumping up, mouthing and cheeky barking which you thought about to be charming in your young puppy suddenly become an actual issue as the canine grows up.
When we bring a new pet dog into our lives we are bringing a various types into a world that is completely foreign to them - our human world. We owe it to our dogs to help them fit into our lifestyle by clearly revealing them exactly what is expected of them and what is appropriate behavior - this is what dog training offers.

So there they are, the 5 reasons I believe every pet dog should have a minimum of some fundamental training - for everyones advantage.

I would, since training your dog is one of the genuine joys of possessing a canine, it is fantastic thrill. Time invested training your pet dog is time well invested - for all included.

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Updated information regarding giving pills to dogs

Earlier, I wrote a blog post in which I mentioned the method that we use here, at the Dog Training/Foster Shack, to give dogs medication in pill form.

One of the things that I suggested in that earlier post was to hide the pill in cheese or a hot dog as an alternative to the pill pockets and similar products that are available, for a high price, at the pet stores.  I mentioned that we used block cheese and that our pack prefers extra strong cheddar. The pack still loves extra strong cheddar, as do I. However, the other day, we ran out of the block cheese and only had the pre-sliced imitation american cheese pictured above. I gave Copper his pill wrapped in this stuff and he loved it.  This stiff is a little cheaper than the block cheese and, I found that it is easier to conceal the pill in it. You can just wrap this stuff around the pill and sort of squeeze it together like play dough.

So, you may want to consider this the next time you have to give your dog a pill.

Till next time

-William-

William Moore Canine Training
678-702-4791
fayettedogtrainer@gmail.com

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Fearful Dogs

One of the saddest points is the number of folks that misunderstand scared pets and in attempting to make things much better for their pet dogs they in fact make it worse. Fearful canines are nearly constantly lacking sturdy pack leaders, and their owners are usually the kindest and gentlest people! They wish absolutely nothing greater than to see their dog live the kind of life that all the other dogs are living, pleased, fun and free.

Just what they fall short to recognize is that their dog is in fact terrified because the proprietor is providing them the message that they are the pack leader. Their dog like several is unable to manage the tension, nor should they be expected to.

Allow me describe a circumstance. If you are 4 years of ages and find on your own in a dark timber with your younger sis and there is an odd sound or an individual coming towards you then you could very well hesitate. Nonetheless if one of your moms and dads existed with you though, then everything would be great. That is since you would certainly not be in charge! This is how it is for your pet when you make them the pack leader. They are terrified and just wish to obtain home safe and alive.

All the obligation is on your pet dogs shoulders and they are unable to handle it in this human globe. There are far a lot of unusual things for them to make decisions regarding constantly. At some point they will certainly snap unless you assist them.

To aid your canine you should initially come to be the pack leader and I recommend that the most effective means to do this is with watching video clip as opposed to reviewing it. Below are a couple of things that you ought to keep in mind when working with a scared pet dog.

They could alter but will have a hard time if you try to press it too quick

You should become the pack leader-- There are some wonderful video clips websites since show you precisely the best ways to come to be the pack leader, do not just check out it

Ask your buddies to ignore your canine when they initially satisfy her

Individuals need to not approach your canine but stand by until she is calm and afterwards call her over.

If she does not come by then she is also afraid and you must leave her alone.

An excellent video based web site will reveal you precisely how you can put all of this into area via using video clip so you could unwind, watch and discover.

Establishing on your own as the pack leader is the foundation to any kind of success with frightened dogs. Till you recognize this you and place it in position you will certainly never ever be in a position to assist your pet.

One of the best sites around is The Online Dog trainer. It has superb video clips on developing on your own as the pack leader and also reveals you how to reassure to scared dogs. Visit the link below

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Obedience Training For Dogs Is Not Hard And Fun

Instruction your pet offers quite a bit far more with regards to instruction your self than the dog. Finding out how dog training operates can get you much better results than when you just try and wing it. This article will provide you with the information and facts you have to get your dog acting how you will want it to.

When you find yourself training your brand-new canine or pup that might be residing indoors the best thing to do may be the kennel instruction. The puppies initial perceptions in the kennel are the most important. Consider placing some pet treats round the crate and leading with it so they can move around and in the kennel. Be sure that you are good and upbeat in order that they know its a very good thing.

Impose each of the instructions you issue to the puppy. Do no issue a command on impulse. Only give you a control for your pet if you really suggest it. This might lead to needing to perform repeatedly your orders. A nicely-trained canine should only need to be informed after to do anything.

You should impose any demand you allow when training your pet. Supplying a command you are not positive about or not happy to follow through with diminishes your part as innovator. Do not check with, beg or scream. Give company commands in a prominent color and assume the dog to present the right conduct. Your puppy will spot you as a true director whenever you follow-through.

Pups usually nip as an easy way of communicating, and this should actually be curbed. It is actually typically a transmission that they would like to play. When you see a pet together with his litter mates, here is the method that they connect together. As soon as your puppy nips you, say no completely, and quickly provide him with a stuffed toy to try out with.

Consider using the services of a person to assist you to workout your pet dog. Just like playing an activity, family pet training can be a expertise which takes time to develop. All of us have their very own design, and it might be that how you are getting together with your dog is not really really working. Someone else may help you find out how to fine-tune your exercise sessions so they are a much better suit for your pet.

Focus on producing the education periods along with your pet fun. All animals act far better when they get pleasure from simply being good. Use whatever your pet dog loves, including games, interest and rights, to help make training a game title rather than a task. You will likely be surprised at the particular results you obtain through your dog.

Offering your puppy an appropriate exercise routine will greatly aid you with your puppy training. Dogs have got a challenging exercising lifestyle, when remaining unchecked they may develop bad behaviors which trips down the sequence. Whenever you acquire your puppy out for the work or go walking daily, it may help through giving them incentives once and for all actions, so that as an additional benefit, the workout will help you stay fit too.

Make sure youre not reinforcing an undesirable behavior. You dont wish to give your puppy pleasures or specific focus during instruction if theyre not undertaking the process effectively. If you do, then theyll consider youre pleased and continue to do issues how theyre doing them, plus they wont improve.

Your pet dog instruction has to be consistent. If several loved one is coaching your dog, be sure each will you the identical commands, benefits and self-discipline. Take advantage of the very same phrases and commands in each and every training session along with your pet to protect yourself from misunderstandings.

Disregarding your canines woofing can be an successful way to get him to quit. Once your dog barks, he wants interest of some type. Should you provide to him, this can inspire him to keep. Instead look out and pretending he isnt there. As he quiets straight down, incentive him having a pat on the brain.

The sort of leash, collar, and harness are important to consider when education a pet dog. The bigger the dog the greater number of protected these products will need to be. Also if someone includes a pet that pulls about the leash a harness must be employed to handle your pet in opposition to a choke sequence or collar. The correct gear is essential to dog training.

Letting the whole family to inform your pet various things will fully defeat the goal of education him. Possess a family getting together with or always keep a list of dog training regulations in the family fridge to remind everyone that connect with the animal to be regular with directions, punishments and incentives. Otherwise the canine will be in a continuing condition of confusion and every loved one will be fully irritated.

Your family family pet requirements anyone to instruct it the way to conduct themselves. Their instincts tell them to act as wildlife, and to do otherwise needs correct redirection. This article has given you some ideas on tips on how to be a better trainer for your canine and also a effectively behaved dog.

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How Sensitive Our Dogs Are

It never ceases to amaze me how "tuned in" our dogs are to our lives.  They have a wonderful understanding of any patterns and routines we follow - what time we get home from work, when it is time to get up in the morning or eat dinner at night.  I dont know how youd prove it, but Im sure our dogs understand many more things, like our favorite spot on the couch, the order in which we clean the house, and what we do when we get upset.

So it should be no surprise that events which throw us off (a new baby, a change in jobs, the death of a close friend) also disrupt our dogs.  And so it happened that two days after my hip surgery (which went very well by the way!), Pistol and Timber got into a fight.  A big ugly fight. 

The boys have never gotten along particularly well, something I blame on my "not-positive-enough" training when they began living together.  They have always had the occasional spat, something that used to be ended with some loud, stern words from me.  Just a few weeks ago they got into a fight when the pet sitter was here, a fight that was a warning to me because it was more intense than usual and actually resulted in some scrapes and scratches on each dog.

And now, after my surgery, the dogs lit into each other again.  They show me just how much chaos I have caused in the house with my crutches and a funny anesthesia smell, visitors bringing pre-cooked meals and my mother filling up our guest room with a months worth of belongings.  The dogs are unhappy about the shift in our normal routine.  Life is off kilter, and when the dog-to-dog relationship is barely peaceful to begin with, a big ugly fight is the end result.

Pistol and Timber barked and growled and snapped and snarled.  My mother yelled at them to stop, and I yelled at her to not get her hands in their way.  Fur literally flew.  I found my crutches and managed to hobble over to the anarchic crime scene.  My mother had somehow pinned each dog apart from the other.  We separated the dogs to different rooms and I examined both of them from nose to tail, checking for blood and holes and any other injuries.

The end result is some painful looking bite wounds, but fortunately all surface scrapes and no expensive (veterinary visit worthy) puncture wounds.  What do I, as a dog trainer, do?  First, I grimace with embarrassment at the horrible behavior of my personal dogs.  Then, since Im bound to the couch for recovery time, Ill make some changes to their living arrangements until life returns to "normal" and I can work on some behavior modification (couples counseling I suppose) for Pistol and Timber.  There will be separate sleeping quarters at night, and any unsupervised time (that includes time when I am around, since I am useless to control two ornery dogs right now) will be spent in different rooms.  For now its management, not training.

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Do dogs sense when their pack mates are sick

Copper the Whopper Beagle spending time with his
buddy Sammy who is recovering from
surgery.

I wrote a blog post earlier addressing the questions of whether or not our dogs know when we are sick. I am convinced that they do sense when we are sick and that they worry about us.

I am equally convinced, through observation, that the same sort of thing occurs between canine pack mates as well. I was reminded of this last night:

The Lovely Shane and I are very greatful
to these folks for being so nice about meeting
us after 10:00pm last night to help us take
care of Foster Boy Sammy the Beagle!

Yesterday, I took our foster boy, Sammy the Beagle, to the Mobile Veterinarian to be neutered. He also got heart worm tested (he is negative!!), got a microchip, and all his shots.

When we got home, the Lovely Shane and I noticed that he was bleeding a little. We did not worry too much at first. However it got worse and about 10:00 pm, we contacted the veterinarian. We ended up going back to the vet last night. Sammy had developed a blood clot. The veterinarian took care of the problem for Sammy and sent us home with pain medication, anti-inflammatory medication and antibiotics.

I stayed up most of the night just to check on Sammy and make sure he was doing okay. The Lovely Shane and I were not the only ones concerned, however. I am convinced that Copper was also worried.

In retrospect, I actually think that Copper knew the severity of Sammys problem before we did. When we bring a dog home from the veterinarian, all the other dogs are curious and have to sniff the guy who just survived the evil alien veterinarian (well at least sometimes it seems that is how they see the vet :) ). Coppers reaction was subtly different in this occasion. He sniffed Sammy as usual but he also followed him around everywhere. Copper would not let Sammy out of his sight. At the time I thought Copper had just missed his new little friend. I think it may have been more than that.

Copper is smart but... I would not
say he is all that complex. As illustrated
here he has simple motivation... food..
for the proper food Copper will do
practically anything :).

After we took Sammy back to the veterinarian late last night, we put an E-collar on him and put him in a crate. Copper stayed near the crate most of the night. Copper continued this for most of the day today. This is unusual for Copper. Occasionally during his watch today, Copper would sniff Sammy through the crate and sort of watch him closely for a little while then lie back down on a bed next to the crate.

I tell this story to make a point. I have often said and written that dogs are not really complex and they really are not. It helps with training if you understand that dogs are not complex. However, the lack of complexity does not mean that they are unaware of the feelings of their pack mates or their people. In fact quite the contrary is true. Dogs can be very sensitive and perceptive. For instance they sense thunderstorms before there is any indication of bad weather. If you spend a lot of time with your dogs, you will notice a difference in behavior just before a bad storm. In fact, Critten, a Lab/Pit Bull mix that lived with me when I was in Florida was very sensitive to the pressure changes during tropical storms and hurricanes.

Critten the weather dog :) .

Foster Boy Charlie the Beagle, Cody the
Little Beagle and Trigger the Dapple
Dachshund share a bed.

This really should not surprise us because these heightened senses are why dogs are so useful in hunting, search/rescue, etc. It is also why they can be trained to be useful to people with PTSD, diabetes, seizure disorders, etc.

I have been around dogs most of my life. While I should expect this sensitivity, it is still, frankly, incredible to watch! God gave these guys a great gift and I feel fortunate to have observed these wonderful creatures!

Keep you eye on your dog.... you might be surprised how much you can learn from these little guys and girls!

If you need help training your little canine buddy to be polite please contact me.  Remember.... Polite Dogs = Happy People! Let me help you to get happy today!

Till next time

-William

William Moore Canine Training
678-702-4791
fayettedogtrainer@gmail.com

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Introducing Dogs and Babies Part One

My wonderful friend, Kathy Nolasco, is getting ready to welcome her first child into the world.  Well, her first human child that is.  Kathy is also the proud parent of a beautiful German Shepherd Dog named Linda.  Which is what prompted Kathy to send me a message the other day, the gist of which was "How do we introduce our dog to the baby?"

Its a question I get a lot, at least from those who are expecting, or know someone who is.  So I thought Id share my answer with everyone.

A little background first.  Kathy and her husband Gerson have a one-year-old female German Shepherd, Linda, from the Dominican Republic (a Dominican Shepherd I tease her).  They are also expecting a baby boy in about 20 days, should he cooperate with his due date.  Kathy has made arrangements for Linda to stay with her parents while she is in the hospital after the baby is born, and they are already planning on bringing baby blankets to Linda so she can smell the baby before she meets him. 

But Lindas already nervous, and the baby hasnt even been born yet.  According to Kathy, Linda is scared of the new baby things in the house, especially the stroller and the swing.  So this is where the training needs to start.  Ill tackle part one - fear of the stroller and swing - in this post, and part two - introducing Linda to the baby - in a later post.

The first rule of training Linda to accept the new baby should be "100% positive."  Because we want the relationship between dog and baby to be a positive one, the training should always be positive too.  We dont want Linda to make any associations between bad things and the new baby.

To teach Linda to accept the baby stroller and swing, get some really yummy treats (PureBites, Natural Balance Rolled Dog Food, Charlee Bears, or Wellness Wellbites).  If she is clicker trained, grab the clicker, but if not, Kathy can tell her "yes" every time she would get a click (for more on clicker training basics see Karen Pryors website, clickertraining.com. Start out with either the stroller or the baby swing (tackle one before the other - the second time around will be easier). 

Lets say Kathy picks the baby swing.  Have the swing set up, but not activated.  Bring Linda into the room where the swing is, and the instant she looks at (or near) the swing, click (or say "yes!") and give her a treat.  Stand in such a way that Linda needs to look back to get her treat, away from the swing.  When she looks at the swing again, click and treat.  Repeat the exercise a couple more times, then take a big step towards the swing.  Kathy should click and treat for Linda looking at the swing, again, the instant they move towards it.  Do another 3 or 4 rounds, then move closer and closer.  Eventually they should be able to stand right next to the swing.

When Kathy is beside the swing, she should reward Linda for looking at the swing once or twice, but then hold off and see if shell voluntarily lean towards it, sniff at it or even touch her nose to it.  If she does, definitely click and treat!  Work on getting as much interaction as possible, without resorting to bribing or luring (an example of that would be putting the treat on the swing).  Be patient - it will pay off in many ways!

The first time Kathy moves Linda towards the swing the swing should be turned off, not moving at all.  Once Linda masters the exercise with the swing off, start over with the swing turned on low - bring Linda into the room and click and treat the instant she looks at the swing.  Continue progressing until there are no issues with the swing.  Then its time to move onto the stroller.

If Linda gets nervous at any point, things have gone a little too fast.  Keep things light and fun.  There dont need to be any commands, and dont force her at any point. This exercise is so effective because Linda is in control - something that goes a long way towards building confidence and eliminating fear.  By rewarding her every time she looks at the baby swing shell start to have a positive association with the swing.

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Increase Your Dogs Learning ability By Using A Education Program

Being a new puppy operator, you might be overloaded with the quantity of operate it takes to make sure your pet dog is both healthier and nicely behaved. This article will get into fine detail regarding suggestions particular to the condition, a brand new canine manager, and ways that one could successfully train your puppy.

The best hint anybody can provide with regards to training your dog is end up being the alpha. Pet dogs are searching for their human experts being the pack innovator. By any means cost show confidence, firmness, and never, beneath any conditions suggest to them weeknesses. They naturally want to have a solid innovator, so make certain you represent yourself as such.

Only take your dogs label when issuing directions. When coaching your pet, it is essential to be able to get and sustain their interest. With your dogs brand when supplying a demand can make them concentration. Utilize your dogs brand frequently. Have them utilized to the two listening to and addressing it.

Support is a key aspect in dog training. Reinforcement only performs, however, when it is executed with all the suitable the right time. Excitedly expressing, "Good woman!" just a couple of seconds past too far has little good effect on the dogs future performance in terms of the ideal respond. Support for preferred actions ought to be fast.

Make sure to keep the training your dog sessions simple. Wildlife become bored quickly and they are unlikely to react if they are not involved in what you are undertaking. Target utilizing your pet three times each day for about a few minutes at a time. This can leave them desiring more and can help make your overall system more successful.

Puppies respond best to good support during instruction. You need to make sure that while in instruction your pup cannot get into problems. If you have to scold a puppy whilst instruction him, he could relate the education to being a adverse expertise instead of be as enthusiastic while he ought to be about his education.

Begin instruction your dog as at the beginning of its lifestyle as possible, although not more youthful than about six months. This assists build a young connection involving you since the operator and coach as well as the canine. However, starting too soon only will overstress your dog a very younger puppy wont learn anything from exercise sessions.

When you are initial getting started in education your pet dog, attempt to schedule the training trainings to take place at approximately the same time every single day. If you are creating the practice periods a confident expertise and performing them on a routine, your pet dog are going to look forward to the trainings and enjoy them a lot more.

Once you consider your pup out to attend the restroom, you must have patience with him. They have a short interest period and could get preoccupied by noises and odours, or want to play. This is standard pet conduct and really should not be reprimanded, specially while he continues to be studying.

One tip to bear in mind when instruction your dog, is your the right time and the envisioned the right time of the dogs steps are essential. This will be significant since this is a single discovering aspect that is present with all canines. Although various puppies require diverse teaching methods, the right time is actually a conversation technique that will assist you get accomplishment irrespective of what you try.

One particular suggestion to keep in mind when training your pet would be to quit your puppy in the conduct you wish to alter. This is very important to ensure that your dog is aware of when to quit a certain motion and things to change it with. An illustration will be to in no way allow it to jump up on any person, and constantly self-control and proper the canine middle of the-activity.

Its crucial your puppy generally has a idea of right from incorrect. You need to have constant borders from every person in contact with the animal. This can undo your entire coaching!

If you get your puppy to public places, be sure that you stay in command of him always. It is actually very good etiquette to assure that he or she does not run around other dogs or individuals without having their authorization. Not all the individuals are cozy around canines and never all pet dogs go along.

Dont ease and comfort your dog as being concerned. This will likely just encourage him being stressed. As an alternative, basically escort him to his crate, usher him in, and let him conquer his nervousness. You really should abandon a radio station on within the room with him and possibly deal with the kennel to help lessen his stress and anxiety. Once he or she is relaxed, provide him out and incentive him for his relax actions.

Because you happen to be new puppy proprietor, you will be confronted with many difficulties. With any luck , should you stick to the techniques offered in the following paragraphs, you may be significantly even closer having the capacity to efficiently workout your brand new puppy and may have a far better comprehension of what explores canine management and education.

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Do dogs enjoy TV

To entertain my buddy Copper and to help relieve a little of his separation anxiety, I often leave the TV on for him. He really seems to enjoy watching.

News shows seem to be his favorites although he will sit in front of anything and fall asleep eventually.

I really do believe that the modern high definition TVs are easier for the dogs to watch. I do not remember having a dog before HDTV that enjoyed watching TV.

I have always used radio and TV to provide a soothing background noise for anxious dogs while I am away but before HDTV the sound from the TV is what did the trick not the video.

I am curious if any of you have noticed a similar phenomena in your dogs.

By the way, if you have a dog with mild to moderate separation anxiety,  TV and/or radio can help sooth the dog and make him more comfortable.

If your dog is being destructive. or just loud when you are gone, contact me. Copper and I would be happy to  provide you with a great deal of help and direction.

Till next time

-William

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Obedience Training For Dogs Is Not Difficult And Exciting

Training your dog ought to be a pleasant, satisfying procedure - for you and your animal! Dog training is not really an issue that comes normally to each and every pet owner, however. By no means fear! Just a little suggestions can significantly help towards making the courses method fun and headache-free. Keep reading to discover some helpful tricks to accept the uncertainty away from dog training.

Make use of pets brand whenever you want to obtain his interest. Try to do this at least ten times every day, rather than phone the family pet for your needs by brand to penalize him. This will help to achieve greater control of your furry friend and establish a robust connection.

Puppy training should be viewed as a type of personal handle. If youre struggling to control your self, youll in no way control your pet. Stroll away from your pet, as an alternative to allowing him see an upset outburst, and keep calm even though his behavior is not stellar. Your puppy will respond in the good lighting if he watches one does a similar.

Instruction your pet to walk on steer needs time. The concept is usually to have your pet stroll obediently beside you with out straining, tugging, and pulling back and forth. Appropriate your dogs movements with short snaps of the steer that move sharply and suddenly rear in opposition to his momentum. He will cease yanking and go walking complacently for some time alongside you. During this period loosen the direct however when he draws yet again click the steer yet again.

Whenever your pet is 7 to 12 months older this is referred to as the "worry-mark period. When your pup encounters injury at this time, he may hold the fear linked to this trauma for the remainder of his existence. As a result, your puppys earlier months should include human being speak to, and contact with many other animals. It also need to be an optimistic experience for him, with little punishing, if any by any means.

Should your or else properly-behaved and housebroken canine begins showing poor behaviours, including urinating in the house, accept it to a vet to eliminate any medical problems. A lot of health problems can cause a pet dog to act out. Dont reprimand your ill pet for showing you that it is unwell assist it.

Set-up a solid arrange for what you want to perform with your proper dog training. For those who have goals noted on your calendar it can give you a way to determine your improvement with the training your dog, and provide you tips about regardless of whether you would need to modify something in your program.

After your pet dog workout is done, finish off with a control that you know your pet dog presently is capable of doing. This gives your dogs subconscious to remember that it offers done the times instruction, and can also help your dog to keep the information it provides figured out in the workout. Additionally, it will assist maintain the schedule.

If you have your dog with splitting up stress and anxiety, you can coach him out of this nervousness by varying your routine. In the event you behave like youre leaving behind the house, however dont or store your jacket in a vehicle instead of the cabinet, you may bust the period of measures, that get the dog hyped track of anxiety to start with.

When instruction a dog which is not housebroken it is very important restrict the canines a chance to wander around the house. By keeping the dog generally with the owner it cuts down on enough time it has to proceed to the washroom in the home. Your dog will never wish to go by the homeowner and should hold it till enable exterior.

To coach your dog to stop begging for man food items, you ought to entirely overlook him when you are consuming. Should you pay attention to him, he will think he has a chance of obtaining your food, and so he will never end pleading. In the event you dismiss him during your mealtime, he will quickly find out that pleading is useless and prevent.

A well-skilled puppy is actually a delight to possess and a life time companion. Every loving pet proprietor understands that the obligation of training their puppy brings a great deal of potential positive aspects. There is not any cause not to seek out support to get the most from instruction your pet dog. Setting up an efficient, enjoyable training course will make you and your animal that much more happy with each other.

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The importance of play for dogs

Sorry I have been a little slow in posting to this blog the last couple of days. I have a really bad sinus/ upper respiratory infection.  I went to the Doctor for the second time today. Hopefully the medication I got will begin working soon!

Well, Copper has been feeling much more like a puppy lately. As some of you may remember, He was recently diagnosed with a thyroid problem. Since he has been on the medication, he has much more energy and gets in moods where he really wants to play! Of course he is still a Beagle so he still does his fair share of napping :).

In the above pictures, we see a happy Copper chasing after some sort of tree bound creature (likely a squirrel). These were taken yesterday, by the lovely Shane, while I was taking a nap (as a result of feeling sort of crappy).

This made me start thinking about how important play is for dogs. It really brings a balance to them.  What Copper is engaging in here is instinctual, natural play. He also likes to run chipmunks out of their holes. I really do enjoy watching him do this and it is good for him. It keeps his mind active.

I always try to make a point of telling my students that it is really important that a dog have time for play. It is not just for puppies. It is for adult dogs too! You have to exercise much more caution bringing adult dogs together to play with each other. If the dogs dont live together, I am not a real advocate of forcing them to play together.

You see, the play is not merely for socialization. It is also to work the minds of the dogs. When Copper chases squirrels, chipmunks, or rabbits, it is fun for him and it works his mind.

For retrievers it may be playing fetch or chasing birds. For terriers it may be digging up toys or chasing rats or chipmunks. It will not take long to determine what your dog naturally likes to do to play.

A note here: Believe it or not, not all dogs enjoy playing with toys. Dont let this discourage you. I have two dogs in my pack that do not enjoy toys. Neither Copper nor Cuddles will play with toys. Copper will eat the frozen peanut butter out of a Kong toy but, when the peanut butter is gone so is his interest in the Kong. While this is uncommon, it is not unheard of. So, do not fret if your dog doesnt like toys. There are still natural ways in which he/she can play.

I write this to encourage you to  let your dogs play from time to time. It is good for them and it is alot of fun to watch !

I am really getting tired here, think I will take another nap and let the medication work.

I will write a more in-depth post on play later.

Remember, play with the dog!

Till next time


William

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Tie Down for Dogs The Magnificent Management Tool

A tie-down is a great management tool for owners and dogs. It helps with :

begging at the table jumping on people

barking at the door meeting a cat

housetraining separation anxiety

What It Is

A tie-down is a leash or cable that is 2 to 3 feet long and is attached to an immovable object (like a piece of furniture, or an eyebolt that is placed in the wall) and to your dog’s buckle collar. A tie-down helps teach your dog to relax, and it also keeps him out of mischief.

How To Use It

A tie-down should be placed in a fairly busy room in your house. It is used ONLY when someone is home, not when you’ve left the house. Although a tie down can be used as a consequence, it’s more often used as a management tool. Your dog should be comfortable and have something good to lie on, chew on, and play with while on the tie-down. For safety reasons, please do not attach the tie-down to a Gentle Leader, Halti, choke, pinch, or any other restricting collar. Be careful that the dog can’t drag the piece of furniture around with him. Keep in mind a tie-down is NOT a tie out. A tie out is a cable or chain used to keep dogs in a yard. They often make dogs aggressive, since the dog feels that he can’t run away from any perceived threat. We never recommend them.

Where Can I Get One?

Once you realize how much easier life can be with a tie down, the next question is where do I get one. You can order a tie down right on the Unleashed website for $10. Unleashed is located in El Dorado Hills and will ship tie downs anywhere in the country. Dont go on a wild goose chase looking for one, almost all pet stores sell "tie outs," but not tie downs. They are a completely different tool used for different things.

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Agility for Puppies and Adult Dogs!

The weather conditions are wetter and the winter is upon us. Unfortunately the outdoor agility area that Yogadog offers in the spring summer and fall is slippery and a bit too muddy for classes. In the meantime, indoor agility, levels one, two and three will be held at Pup Culture 6939 Hastings Street in Burnaby. The equipment is smaller but ideal for indoor work. The level one is for beginners and level two is for graduates of puppy agility or for dogs who have had some agility training. Level three is brand new for 2013 and consists of harder sequences and angles as well as better team work and challenges the humans as much as the dogs! I am offering these classes for 50% off as a promotion to get more people out there and get ready for the return of outdoor agility in April when the weather gets better!

To register call Shannon at 604-312-8754 or contact at shannon@yogadog.ca

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Why are cops shooting pet dogs

Over the past few years I have noticed and commented on a trend that I find disturbing and alarming.
The trend is that of law enforcement officers in ever increasing numbers killing pet dogs with their service weapons.

If you have not noticed this trend or want to verify it, I suggest that you use google or your favorite search engine. Try the search phrase "cop kills dog". You will likely be sick to your stomach. I will warn you that if you do a search with that phrase on YouTube you will find videos that are truly disturbing and very graphic. There are several videos on YouTube that document disgusting graphic  scenes of law enforcement officers, paid by our tax dollars, shooting pets that obviously pose no immediate threat to them. In one video an officer restricts a dogs movement with a rigid tether and kills him with what appears to be the officers service weapon.

The problem has become such an epidemic that it has attracted the attention of documentary film makers Michael Ozias and Patrick Reasonover. The pair have recently completed work on a documentary film called "Of Dogs and Men". Infowars recently did a story about the issue and the documentary film.

The press kit for "Of Dogs and Men" provides some startling and vile facts such as the following:

• According to a Department of Justice estimate, police officers shoot and kill over 10,000 pet dogs in the US every year. 

From SWAT raids to simple calls and even visits to wrong addresses, we are seeing more and more incidents of officers using lethal force against a family pet, despite the fact that no officer has ever been killed in the line of duty by a dog.

Payton and Chase, two black labs, were shot by police raiding their Maryland home. Not only was their owner innocent of any charges, he is the towns mayor.

Seven-month-old General Patton watched as his owners were handcuffed on the side of a Tennessee highway, completely innocent of any charges. When he left the car, wagging his tail, he was killed at point blank range with a police shotgun.

Patches, a 12 pound Jack Russell terrier, was shot by a 250 pound police officer who claimed to be in fear for his life.

I often teach people the proper techniques to utilize in breaking up dog fights. I also teach people techniques to use with aggressive dogs to avoid dog bites.

My friends, I realize dog bites hurt like hell. I have been bitten a few times over the years. I did not find any of those experiences enjoyable in the least. However, I have never killed a dog to avoid a bite. I have never felt that my life or body was in danger to the extent that my only or best option was to end the life of the attacking dog.

In the example from the documentary film, I am at a loss to come up with any possible reason why a 250 pound law enforcement officer would "be in fear for his life" from a 12 pound Jack Russell terrier. You folks with Jack Russells know they can be frustrating at times. However, I have never met a reasonable and sane adult who was in fear for his life due to the threat of a 12 pound Jack Russell terrier. With all due respect, where the hell did they find this coward?

Am I the only one who is not frightened by the sight of
this big guy? 

My question to the law enforcement community is: Why are you so terrified of dogs that many times are wagging their tails and not presenting any signs of aggression at all? If this sort of thing really does freak you out to the point of requiring you to endanger the lives of the public by firing a deadly weapon to kill these poor animals, perhaps you should reconsider your chosen profession. For example, fast food service does not pay as much but you will never again have to face the "threat to your life" imposed by  a massive 12 pound Jack Russell terrier at work.

The techniques that I mention are not difficult to learn. They are not magic that only dog trainers can master. They are simply common sense techniques developed out of an understanding of dog behavior. I did not come up with these techniques. I learned them from other folks who also work with aggressive or scared dogs.

My friends and customers, this is not rocket science! I learned the techniques and can teach them to anyone in a relatively short amount of time. The more you use these techniques the easier they are to do but anyone can learn them. By "anyone" I mean even law enforcement officers.

As I have mentioned in blog posts before: I have broken up many dog fights. I have avoided being bitten by aggressive dogs. I have been bitten by aggressive dogs. Most of the time when I was bitten it was because I failed to follow simple techniques. In none, again I say no not one time, did I shoot a dog. I did not stab a dog. I did not kill a dog by any method. I did not even hurt a dog. I was not even tempted to hurt, injure or kill the aggressive dog.

If I can do it then, I do not think it is too much to ask that law enforcement in this country do the same. Yes, you brave law enforcement officers may get bit. It happens. But it is never justification for killing an animal who was most likely aggressive due to fear. A dog can also become aggressive to protect his handler or the handlers property. None of this warrants instant death.

Law enforcement officers, please understand, the dog is not going to kill you. Have any of your fellow officers ever been killed by a pet dog? (according to the statistics the answer to this question is a resounding NO!) Yes the dog may be scary. If you do not exercise proper caution the dog may bite you and it will hurt like hell. But, you will not die. Ask any professional dog trainer who has been in the business for a while. They will tell you that although suffering multiple bites they are all still alive with little or no permanent damage.

I realize that language of this post is a bit harsh in comparison to my standard blog posts. I am not against law enforcement here. I am simply in favor of not having government agents killing innocent pet dogs. Many times this killing occurs on private property even in the homes of law abiding citizens of the United States of America. Regardless of your emotional feelings here, do we really want this happening in our country?? Is this really what our founding fathers would have envisioned for the future of this nation? Do you thing Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Revere, Hancock or any of that bunch would have feared for their live due to a 12 pound Jack Russell Terrier? I find it difficult to envision Washington firing a musket at this little guy under any circumstances. Am I incorrect here?

If any of you folks would like to learn the proper technique to use in breaking up dog fights or how to avoid getting bitten, please contact me at anytime and leave the pistol in the holster.

Also, if you would like help in teaching your dogs to be polite little girls and boys please let us know!

Till Next Time

-William

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Introducing Dogs and Babies Part Two

Welcome to the world, Alex Nolasco!  Your mom and dad wanted some tips for introducing your dog, Linda, to you for the first time.  They want your meeting to be peaceful, so here are some things they can try:

• Dont feel the need to introduce Linda and Alex the instant Linda comes back to the house.  Let Linda get used to being home, let her smell and hear baby Alex crying and making all the strange noises a little person makes.  Allowing Linda time to take that in before the introduction will make things less stressful and should make the initial meeting of baby and dog less of a "big deal" for your dog.
• Practice "leave it" in as many different situations as you can.  Work on having Linda leave toys, food, trash, sticks, clothes - anything you can pick up and show her, anything she might possibly want.  Work on having Linda "leave it" in all different rooms of the house, outside in the back yard, standing in the kitchen, running down the hall - anywhere and anyway you can imagine.
• Keep the dog & baby times short and sweet.  When you do introduce Linda and Alex, separate them after a minute or less.  The same goes for the next time they meet, and the time after that.  When you do separate them, always take Linda away from the baby, not baby away from Linda.  This is especially important if Linda has gotten overly excited or pushy, or if she is not reacting well.
• Practice "Off," the command that means "4 On The Floor," or dont jump up on anything (people, couches, counters, etc.).  Some people tell their dogs "down" for this, but if you use the command "down" to mean "lie down," then there should be a separate command for not jumping up.
• Practice "Down Stay."  Focus on improving Lindas ability to stay in a down position with greater distance, duration and distractions.  This will be very useful as baby Alex grows, and even now.  Having a dog that you can "park" on a dog bed and know shell stay put is a great convenience!  Keep it fun and successful for her though, "down stay" can be a boring and frustrating exercise for a dog unless it is taught slowly and with a lot of patience and praise.
• Consider teaching Linda to stay off the couches and beds, if you havent already.  Boundaries are important to a dog, and knowing that she wont accidentally jump directly onto a sleeping baby that she didnt see is good piece of mind.
• Make sure Linda gets plenty of exercise, mental stimulation and positive training.  Take moments during the day to spend a few minutes throwing the ball, practicing some obedience training, giving her a stuffed Kong, or taking her for a leisurely "sniff all you want to" walk.  This will help keep her in a good frame of mind, and reduce some of the stress she will feel from all the changes at home.  Daddy, this is a good place for you to be involved!
• Dont allow Linda to pick up or play with any of baby Alexs toys, clothes, pacifiers or any other baby things.  Dog toys are for the dog, everything else is for the people.  Its about respect, safety and consistency.
• Practice "Out."  This command means leave the room or the area.  Its pretty useful if your dog is encroaching on your space, begging, or just getting in the way.  It sounds kind of rude, but if she is trained to it well Linda wont be offended, and with a new baby there are just some times that having a dog under your feet is not what you want.

Enjoy your puppy baby Alex!  I hope that you have many wonderful years of a boy and his dog - its a magical bond that I am excited for you to have.

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What to do when you can not take your dogs on vacation with you

The Lovely Shane and I at the Cruise Ship Port in Nassau

Copper really missed us!

The Lovely Shane and I just returned from a Cruise to the Bahamas. Those of you who are familiar with me know that I advocate taking your well behaved little guys with you if possible. In some cases, it is simply not possible. The cruise lines do not allow pet dogs (at least Carnival does not). Therefore, we could not take our little darlings with us.

The towel animal that the crew left in our room one
day really reminded us of Cody.... Could have been Copper but would
 have required a large beach towel :)

There were many options available to us for their care. Some of the options we considered were:

• Leaving the pack at the Dog Training Shack (our home) and asking relatives to feed and walk them in addition to checking our mail, taking out the trash, etc.
• Leaving the pack at the Dog Training Shack and hiring a pet sitter to feed and walk them.
• Leaving the pack at a relatives house to be cared for over the week.
• Leaving the pack at the home of a Pet Sitter for the week.

None of these options is particularly bad. We did not really want to impose upon our family for the length of time which we were going to be away. None of our family really had the space for our pack at their houses.Our house was too far away to be practical for them to care for our guys for a week in our home.

Notice that a kennel is not on the list. We just really did not want them to be caged in a strange place for the entire week. I will not hate you if you choose a kennel. There are some good ones out there. It was just not what we wanted to do. It was really important to us that they stay with someone that we know and that will take good care of them (some folks may call it spoiling them. We prefer to call it taking good care of them :)).

The beach at Little Stirrup Cay (Bahamas)

Another note of caution. This is not really dog related but more travel related. You may notice that I did not mention my trip at all on this blog before departure. I did not mention it on Facebook or any other public electronic venue either. This was intentional. Please be cautious about posting this sort of personal information on places that may be accessed by the general public. The Lovely Shane and I were both gone so, the house was a little vulnerable. Had I posted this information about our travel plans publicly, anyone with nefarious intentions could have broken into our house. Also anyone with something against me ( I hope there are not many of you :) ) would have know my general location and could have found me. Perhaps my past career in the Computer Security business makes slightly more paranoid that most of you. But please consider this advice the next time you are planning a trip.

We decided to use a Pet Sitter. It was a little outside our budget to have them stay at our home so, we took them to the Pet Sitters home. This was a better option anyway. At the Pet Sitters home they got more attention than they would have if left alone at our place and they got to play with other people and dogs. This sort of situation is generally much less stressful on the dogs than a kennel would be.

The Lovely Shane and I with a new DJ friend.

We use and I  highly recommend Michelle Crampo at All Things Paws. You may remember my mentioning Michelle in another post about the Local Heroes of Dog Rescue. I adopted Copper from her. She does a lot of good work saving the lives of dogs through rescue.

Copper enjoyed being back at his old foster home for a week! The rest of our pack did incredibly well too.

When you leave your pack to go on vacation, it is not uncommon for them to behave a little differently when you return. Our little guys and girl have been much more clingy. This usually lasts for a day or two.

I still strongly encourage you to take the little guys and girls with you when you go if it is possible. However, I do realize that sometimes we do not have that option. When you need to leave them behind, I strongly suggest that you leave them with someone you can trust. If you are outside the Atlanta area, check with other people in the community and get recommendations from people that you trust. If you are leaving the dogs at the sitters home, ask for a tour of the place and perhaps bring your dogs over first to let them sniff around the place before your trip.

If you are in the South Metro Atlanta Area, I certainly recommend Michelle. If you live elsewhere in North Georgia, please contact me and I will be glad to talk with you about other sitters in the area.

Till next time

-William-

William Moore
William Moore Canine Training
678-702-4791
fayettedogtrainer@gmail.com

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Dinner with the dogs

I have written many times about the importance of adoption and even about the local heroes of dog rescue. I would like to ask you to join me in the support of a local group of dog rescue heroes and the dogs whose lives they save.

BullyWag is having a fundraiser on three different Fridays in August. See the picture of the flyer above for the dates.

The fundraiser is being held at Ruby Tuesdays location in Newnan, GA. This is not much of a drive for any of you in the Atlanta area. On these Fridays, if you mention BullyWag to your server or your bartender, 20% of your Bill will go to BullyWag (and please dont forget to tip your server and/or bartender).

Many of the BullyWag dogs will be there. If you are looking for a new pack member, I encourage you to stop by!

Thirty One Bags will be on-site and a full 10% of sales will go to BullyWag. 

Copper and I will also be there to demonstrate loose leash walking and some of the positive reinforcement techniques that we teach. I will also give free consultations. I always provide discounted services for adopted/rescued dogs.

I will also be bringing our tiny foster beagle, Penny to the event. If I have room in the truck, I may also bring little Cody the Beagle who is the latest dog that the Lovely Shane and I adopted.

So, I look forward to seeing all of you there!

Till Next Time

-William-

William Moore 

William Moore Canine Training

fayettedogtrainer@gmail.com

678-702-4791

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Polite Dogs and Happy People

Polite Dogs and Happy People...

This is the real reason I am a Dog Trainer. It is my goal to help you teach your dogs to be more polite little guys and girls. Polite dogs lead naturally to happier people. It is stressful to live with a dog who misbehaves constantly and is out of control. It can be embarrassing to have a dog who pulls on the leash and does not behave well on walks. It is downright frustrating to be unable to get your dogs attention when you call his name.

These may sound, to some of you, as superficial problems. They really are not. If your dog is not polite and obedient, it is very frustrating and stressful. In a lot of cases, these frustrated owners eventually give up on the dog and the dogs in some cases wind up in shelters. I dont have to remind any of you that dogs who end up in shelters are often killed.

If you have one of these dogs please do not give up hope! It would be dishonest of me to tell you that it is always easy to train a dog to be a polite little guy. There are some frustrating cases. But, with determination on your part, the proper guidance, and consistent work incredible transformations can occur!

When I am out in the community, I, many times, see people with dogs that are not polite. It is not that the dogs are bad it is just that the people have not been consistent in their training or they are using inappropriate or ineffective methods of training.

I tell people all the time that dogs are not complex. They are not trying to spite you or to be difficult. They just, in many cases, are confused and do not understand what is expected of them. 

Since dogs are not really complex thinkers, they do not really understand even slightly abstract concepts. The dog is pretty much always focused on the present. This is why it does no good to scold a dog for something that they did while you were away. They will be confused and not connect the scolding to the past event. This can be very detrimental because they will likely connect the scolding to something that is occurring in the present and get the wrong message entirely.

In my experience, dogs do much better with positive reinforcement. In very basic terms, you reward the behavior you want to keep and you give the dog no reward or affection for the behaviors that you want to stop. It is a little more complex than those couple of sentences but, that is the basic idea. My advice is to provide a positive alternate behavior for the negative behavior that you are trying to stop.

I am more than happy to guide any of you through this process of training to get a more polite and better behaved dog. 

I have some new brochures that I give to prospective clients that I meet. Many of the local veterinarian offices, groomers and pet stores also have some of my new brochures  The reason I mention them is that the concept of "Polite Dogs and Happy People" is very prominent in this new material. It is my focus and my aim is to help you to achieve the goal of a more polite dog.

I do not take a "cookie cutter" approach to training. Your dog is unique. You are unique. Your family is unique. Your pack is unique.

Each dog has unique needs. Each of my clients have unique goals. Each dog has different and unique behavior issues.

Therefore...... I work with you, my client, to form an action plan to address your specific and unique training needs and goals. 

I also work with your schedule. I can be very flexible on scheduling. We do not have to meet at the same time every session. If your work schedule changes, my schedule can change as well.

These are the things that set me apart from my competition in the Dog Training Business. The big box pet stores (Petco, Petsmart, etc.) offer group classes. These are not bad dog trainers and I am not bashing their methods. But, they all work from a curriculum.  I worked from the same type of curriculum when I was employed as a Dog Trainer at Petco in Peachtree City, GA.  It is not a bad curriculum.... but, even though I had some flexibility,  there were certain things that I was forced to teach in every class that were not really applicable or helpful to every student. And there were some things that I could not teach because of the structure of the classes and the store environment. As an independent, in-home trainer, I no longer have those limitations.

I work with you in your home. This is where the dog lives and this is where I can best observe and get a much better handle on your dogs unique situation.

So, please contact me at any time. I would love to help you achieve your goal of a polite dog......and ultimately make you and your family happier people!

Till Next Time

-William-

William Moore Canine Training
678-702-4791
fayettedogtrainer@gmail.com

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Why Yawns Are Contagious Calming Signals in Dogs and How We Can Use Them

We all know that dogs can’t talk (whether or not we care to admit it is another thing altogether).  What they do rely on is body language – lots and lots of body language.  While we might approach a stranger and say, “Hey, I’m new here. It’s nice to meet you,” a dog might walk up to another dog in an arc with a slow, circular wagging tail, its ears back and drop into a butt-up, front down stretch.  They are both ways to express “I’m friendly and mean no harm.”

Calming signals are just what they sound like.  They are behaviors offered by a dog in an attempt to keep a situation calm.  We aren’t completely sure if they are used by one dog solely to calm another dog, solely to calm themselves, or a combination of both.  My feeling is that the latter is true, especially since calming signals are often both offered and returned.  We can help our dogs feel comfortable by learning what their calming signals are and respecting them, and even by responding in kind, repeating their gesture as best we can (tail wagging obviously excluded).

Before getting into what calming signals can be, I want to emphasize that context is important.  Think of how a person telling another “you fool!” can be issued as an insult or an expression of teasing affection.  Context is important, regardless of species.  For example, ears held back on a dog’s head can be a calming signal, a sign of fear, or even just the physical nature of the breed. 

You may or may not notice calming signals with your own dog.  Unless you recently adopted your dog or have a new puppy, chances are your relationship is fairly established.  Your dog may not feel the need to offer these signals on a regular or frequent basis.  Unfortunately we can also extinguish calming signals in our pets, even without intention.  If a dog offers calming signals that are repeatedly ignored or corrected, eventually they will stop trying.  Think about people – if your partner brought you flowers after a fight and you always responded with snide comments about wasting money or stinking up the house, chances are your partner would stop buying flowers – at least for you!  Since we are frequently our dog’s entire world, our response (or lack thereof) to their behavior is critically important.

Calming signals may include:

·         “Look aways” (turning the head to the side, away from the other dog or person)

·         Yawning

·         Sniffing (becoming very interested in not much of anything)

·         Paw raises (raising one of the front paws off the ground)

·         Shake offs (can be a slight shake off or entire body, as if wet)

·         Scratching (like they are itchy – a sudden case of “fleas”)

·         Blinking

·         Lip licking (or nose licking)

·         Moving in an arc (approaching or leaving in a semi-circle, not a direct path)

·         Sitting or lying down

·         Stretching (particularly into a play bow position, though not quite the same behavior)

·         Making a “soft face” – ears back, soft eyes, etc.

There are a few signals that you may want to try, either with your dog or a dog you are just meeting.*  They can help a dog feel more comfortable, and may even be offered back to you.

Blinking is pretty universal between species – go for slow, deliberate blinks (not fast fluttering). Lip licking is also simple to duplicate.  Again, make it slow and obvious. You can actually lick your lips or even just stick your tongue out a few times.  “Look aways” involve turning your head to either side, away from the dog. You may then look back, without making eye contact, then look away again.  A paw lift is a little more difficult (largely since we don’t have paws and walk on two legs, not four).  But if you are feeling daring you can try it with one arm, holding it as if you were imitating a hurt paw. 

You may have figured out now how yawning can be contagious.  Offered as a calming signal between dogs, or even from dog to human (and human to dog), a yawn is much more than feeling sleepy.  It can be offered back and forth, and maybe thats why we feel the urge to yawn when someone near us yawns.

For additional information on calming signals, read On Talking Terms with Dogs by Turid Rugaas.  Rugaas is an internationally acclaimed dog trainer from Norway who has done extensive studies on calming signals in dogs.  You can visit her website at http://www.canis.no/rugaas/index.php .  A good visual example of using calming signals with dogs can be found in KikoPup’s collection of YouTube videos (http://youtu.be/MgnLgHFRJu4 ).  While you’re there check out her other videos – Emily has produced a goldmine of how-to videos on clicker training everything from cool tricks to problem behaviors.

 Video: KikoPups How To Communicate With Dogs in Their Own Language

* Offering calming signals doesn’t make it safe to approach an aggressive dog.  When in doubt, keep your distance.

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