The Local Heroes of Dog Rescue

I have been promising for a while to write a blog entry about some of my friends at the local canine rescue agencies. In the title, I call these people heroes. To the dogs that they help, and to me, they really are heroes.
These people volunteer their time to help provide forever homes for some of Gods most innocent and precious creatures. In most cases, they literally save these dogs lives by removing them from local animal shelters before the dogs are euthanized. These wonderful volunteers, the foster parents, open their homes to these dogs until they are adopted.

These heroes work many hours on the weekends at various events around town (pet stores, etc.) to show these beautiful animals to potential adoptive parents. In addition to that, they constantly are raising funds to provide food and other essentials for the animals that are in their care.

During my time working at Petco in Peactree City, GA, I was blessed to meet a few of these wonderful heroes. I hesitate to mention names because I know I will leave many good people out. I will tell you about a couple of them here. My apologies to the others that I do not mention. I am sure that I will have occasion to write about your work in the future.

Based in Douglasville, GA ,BullyWag is a organization dedicated to saving the lives of dogs and finding them forever homes. They concentrate primarily on Pit Bull Breeds. Michelle Crampo brings a van load of dogs to Petco in Peachtree City every Saturday.She fosters many of these guys in her home. Many of these dogs find their forever homes as a result of the work that she does. She also has a soft spot for Beagles and Great Pyrenees. I adopted Copper from Michelle in January 2013. He has been a great addition to our pack! You can meet this hero on almost any Saturday afternoon at the Petco in Peachtree City. She will be more than happy to help you select the perfect dog for you and help you provide a forever home to one of these beautiful dogs!

Southern Crescent Canine Rescue

Based in Milner, GA Southern Crescent Canine Rescue saves the lives of many dogs and finds them forever homes.

Sandra Bray and Lew are two of the heroes at Southern Crescent Canine Rescue. They both do great work fostering dogs in their homes and almost every Saturday you can find them at Petco in Peachtree City.

Southern Crescent has a great variety of breeds of dogs.  Sandra and Lew and any of their volunteers are always happy to help you find the perfect little guy or girl for your family!


As always, if you are looking for an addition to your pack, I strongly recommend both of these organizations. If you are outside the Fayette County/ South Metro Atlanta Area, check Petfinder to find a rescue group near you!

Once you choose a little guy or girl to add to your pack, I will be happy to provide you with guidance on transitioning him/her to your home. I will also be happy to help you train your new pack member to be a well behaved and polite addition to your family. Please feel free to contact me at any time.

Till Next Time

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

Read more

Very good Canines Are The Effect Of Constant Coaching

Shelters are filled with puppies that didnt live up to owners requirements. Correct coaching will create a excellent properly-behaved loved ones pet. Making your pet using this method doesnt need to be difficult, if you make investments enough time to make it happen with a few simple actions.

With aggressive pet dogs it is advisable to get started slowly. Competitive puppies see their selves because the superior part in the package and attempting for taking that function from their website too rapidly may result in a poor reply from your dog. To protect yourself from bites or issues, acquire small steps in developing on your own as being the package head.

When educating a puppy simple instructions, begin with sit. Here is the quickest a single for any canine to learn. Keep his favored treat just above his nose area, and completely say sit. Most puppies will naturally sit back at this moment. Provide him the handle and dont neglect to compliment him profusely. If he doesnt stay, carefully press his back end finish to the floor. Right after he has been seated for a couple of secs, supply him with the take care of, and like before, be sure you compliment him.

Dogs generally focus on something when overlooking every thing close to them, except when something disrupts that extreme concentration. If you do it enough instances, your pet will watch for your indicators rather than focusing on other stuff.

Dont pressure your pet to go into his crate. Alternatively, profusely praise him when he goes in his crate on his. Younger puppies, particularly, could possibly be fairly afraid of the kennel after it is initial launched. In the event you power these to enter it their anxiety may well develop into terror. Their natural interest could eventually override their anxiety.

If your canine tends to chew on the shoes or boots or any other house products, you can cease this behavior by offering your pet a yummy substitute, like a unprocessed hide bone tissue, to chew. Your dog will likely give up your shoes in favor of the uncooked cover up, because the only explanation he or she is chewing your shoes or boots is that he / she is fed up and needs one thing to perform.

If you are seeking to coach a teething dog to never chew on your own garments or valuables, provide it with a proper product which to chew. Teething puppies offer an instinctive must chew, to be able to relieve the pain. Nonetheless, dont give your pup aged boots or clothes, because they will be taught that those items are ok to chew on.

Make an effort to get the dogs attention while you are training him or her. Make use of dogs brand when providing a command. This will likely get his focus so they know to adhere to the demand. Your puppy will recognize their brand and they can see you want their interest.

As being a proactive pet owner is the first task in instruction your pooch. An owner who anticipates problematic conditions for his or her puppy, and functions to keep him from all those circumstances anytime you can, can have a much better behaved dog. Comprehensive training is definitely not as essential if you achieve to find out your pet to help you expect his activities.

When coaching a pet dog to your leash it is very important keep your leash reduce. Each time a dog will get the chance to investigate new sights, appears to be and odors over a go walking, he typically gets extremely excitable. Your pet dog may take on his or her leash. Great puppy owners dont permit this conduct. As an alternative, they promote their canines just to walk with many slack within their leash.

One particular idea to remember when training your dog is to ensure that you make it totally crystal clear for your dog what exactly it is that your are disciplining it for. This will be significant to prevent misunderstandings and also to instruct your dog precisely what is desired and what is undesired conduct. An illustration of this things to prevent is hitting your dog time previous as well as in an alternative space from which it shredded your couch.

Instruct your puppy the "Leave it!" command. This command is essential in daily situations. Apply it if your canine attempts to seize food off a kitchen table or try to eat rabbit poop if you are out for a go walking. To obtain the pet to adhere to your control, keep a pleasure inside your palm (have one out of the other palm, also). Keep your hands available, and once he applies to the deal with, close up your hand when you say the demand "Let it sit!" Then offer you him another take care of, and discard normally the one you told him to depart. Repeat this step a few times, and then he will learn to "Leave it!" when you inform him to.

As we have talked about in this article, getting a satisfied, healthier, and nicely-tweaked dog will not be a hopeless aspiration. You should train your dog and present him a lot of attention and adore. Adopting the ideas provided in this article will bring about you owning a dog which you will be pleased with.

Read more

Leader of the Pack

Dominant Aggression:

Although it may seem cute when a young puppy growls, this could be the first signs of aggression. Food guarding and snapping at guests, may seem harmless when a dog is small, but people don’t understand is that this dog is showing the early signs of dominance. The truth is that this pup is probably going to grow up to be aggressive to family members in addition to strangers. Early growling can easily develop into an adult that tries to take control of the house. Dominant Aggression needs to be controlled from the start, (no matter how cute or small the dog is).

Often people will say that dog aggression seems to appear out of the blue, but there are always warning signs and early indicators of aggressive tendancies. For instance “offensive (dominance-related) aggression is often indicated by high postures, staring and chasing (Borchelt and Voith, 1996; Lindsay, 2001). Unfortunately, posturing and body language are often overlooked and growling as well as food guarding is simply punished, to the point the dog stops giving warning signals and goes straight to biting.

Dogs are pack animals and they live a pack life that has been bred into them since the beginning of time. Their very nature demands a pack order and if one is not set up for them, they will take it upon themselves to develop their own pack order by which they live. If the owner doesn’t establish itself as the pack leader and all humans to rank above the dog, it may take it upon itself to become the alpha. This is why many dogs will only obey one person in the household. It all comes down to how the dog views its order in pack.

Proper socialization at an early age can help reduce the chance of aggression. A dog “can be influenced by its experiences during early life, a time that is critical for establishing social relationships (Scott and Fuller, 1965). Puppies raised in isolation until the end of the sensitive period (12 weeks of age) tend to show deficits in play activity and to behave aggressively towards peers (Fox and Stelzner, 1967). Even if a dog learns to interact appropriately with littermates, these social skills may not be retained unless the dog continues to receive frequent conspecific socialization”. (Lindsay, 2001). The socialization must be ongoing and varied in order to expose the dog to as many things, people and stimulus as possible.

Prevention is the best cure, but to get control of an already dominant dog you must have his view of the pack order changed. He needs to be moved to the bottom of the list in terms of dominance. He must realize that all humans rank higher than himself. This is done by monitoring the order of every aspect of the dog’s life. Dominant dogs do not sleep on the bed or in the bedroom. The best place to sleep goes to the pack leader. Dominant dogs never eat from the table and are always fed “after dinner,” (lower pack members always eat last). Humans must have first access to all resources, to establish that the dog is the lowest ranking member of the pack.

Spaying and neutering the dog can help in reducing aggressive tendencies. However, not always in the case of females. “Most household aggression involves spayed females (Sherman et al., 1996) Furthermore: in regard to multiple dog homes.

“Overall (1997) observed that compared to neutered males, aggression in intact males is often more intense, quicker, and lasts longer. In contrast, spayed females have been found to initiate aggression more frequently than intact females (Sherman et al., 1996) and to display more dominance-related aggression after spaying”. (Voith and Borchelt, 91982; Kim et al., 2006).

The real key to controlling and preventing aggression is obedience training. This is a very important part of establishing some kind of order. The training method, when dealing with aggression, should not be the strictly a motivational approach. Motivation is used but it must be tempered with corrections for all unwanted behaviour. It is essential to interrupt all aggressive and dominant behaviour and provide the dog with a healthy and happy alternative. However, if the dog’s dominance has developed to a point where it tries to attack the handler when it gets corrected…then its time to get some professional help.

For information on the myths of pack order and dominance check out this link:

http://www.4pawsu.com/dogpsychology.htm

Read more

What sort of harness or collar is good for a dog who pulls on the leash

Dogs that pull on the leash is the second most common thing that people ask me about. Second only to housebreaking. If you have a dog that pulls on the leash there are loose leash walking techniques that you can learn. I will be happy to teach you how to train your dog to walk properly on a leash using these techniques.

For a dog that is really bad about pulling, in addition to the loose leash walking techniques, I also suggest a no-pull harness.

There is a difference between a no-pull designed harness and a traditional flat harness.

The green and black and the orange and black harnesses pictured above are both flat harnesses. The orange and black one is a mesh comfort harness. Both of these are good for their intended purpose which is to distribute the pull from the leash across the body rather than at one point on the neck ( as with a flat collar). They do prevent choking. However they offer no resistance to pulling. They actually tend to encourage pulling because the dog gets no resistance.

There are a couple of options that I recommend for no-pull harnesses:

The Petsafe Easy Walk is a very good solution. The handsome Labrador in the picture is sporting an Easy Walk harness. It has a D-ring in the front of the collar. The d-ring in the  front is attached to a buckle that pulls the two nylon pieces in the front tighter when the dog pulls, thus giving the dog resistance. When adjusted properly, the harness does not really squeeze the dog it simply gives him resistance. The Easy Walk is the harness that I used to teach Copper proper loose leash walking technique. It is a really good product however, my experience has been that it does not fit all dogs properly. The other caution I will give you for this harness and pretty much any no-pull type harness is that they are only for walking. After the walk they need to come off because the dog can easily chew them up. Copper chewed up two of the Easy Walks because I neglected to remove them after walking.

The Beagle in the picture is wearing a typical no-pull harness that is available in many different brands at your local pet stores. It has a little bit of mesh in the front but it is different than the mesh flat harness. Notice the padded strings that attach to the mesh and go behind the little beagle guys front legs. These strings are attached to the d-ring to which the leash is attached. When the dog pulls, he feels resistance on the strings. When adjusted properly, this does not hurt him, he simply feels resistance. This is the type of harness that I am using now to train Cody, our newest addition to the pack. This harness is generally about half the price of the Easy Walk and seems to fit a wider range of dogs. The Easy Walk is a little easier to get on and off the dog, however.  I will give you the caution again that this harness needs to come off  the dog after a walk. They will chew this one too!

The brown collar here is a martingale collar. These are very popular with people who own sight hounds (or greyhounds). The reason they are popular is that they do not easily pull over the head. This is important with the sight hounds because typically the neck is wider than the head. After your dog stops pulling as much, you may want to transition him to a collar for walking. The martingale is a good choice. When adjusted properly, the martingale fits snug when the leash is pulled but does not choke the dog. I have a martingale on Copper. I have the leash connected directly to the martingale most of the time when we walk. It took a while to make the transition.

These are the products that I have used in training many times and I know that they work. There is a new product that I have heard nothing but good things about from people I respect. That product is the Walk-in-Sync harness. It is a little more expensive but seems to have the advantages of the Easy Walk while fitting a wider variety of dogs. If you are interested you can find more information at http://dogwalkinsync.com/ . At some point later on, I will test this product and post the results on this blog. The black lab in the picture is wearing a Walk-in-sync.

If you have a dog that pulls on the leash and/or is not well behaved on walks, please contact me at any time. I will be happy to help you!

Till next time

-William-

William Moore

William Moore Canine Training

678-702-4791

fayettedogtrainer@gmail.com

Read more

Well Tested Methods Of Successful Puppy Training

No matter the dimensions of your dog, they generally all have a similar attitude. A person with an excellent grasp of those general doggy qualities should be able to effectively train practically any sort of dog. Any pet owner who seems to be oblivious on the way pets believe can learn a whole lot from this post.

When you find yourself education your puppy or pup that can be lifestyle indoors a very important thing to perform is definitely the crate coaching. The dogs initially perception of your kennel are the most important. Try out placing some canine pleasures round the kennel and top in it to enable them to walk all around and in the kennel. Make sure that you are optimistic and upbeat to make sure they know its a very good thing.

Puppy owners should find out to listen for their animals. Whenever a puppy indicates that he or she is uneasy in a situation, including with one more puppy, its by no means great to press him further than he desires to go. Take a step back and re-assess the situation, or get back to it at another time.

Training your pet an enjoyable strategy, like "engage in lifeless" could be a entertaining means of annoying him. Whenever your canines conduct is terrible, simply use the control you have recognized for his technique rather than utilizing unfavorable penalty. This provides you with for the enjoyable process for your puppy and creates a good surroundings for yourself too.

If you fail to calmly deal with your pet, it is recommended to placed training aside until you have constructed your mood. Your puppy does not understand poor moods. Frustration can occur with the dog when you turn out to be frustrated in seeking to work on essentials. Perseverance and kindness are important aspects within a prominent leader.

Dont pressure your puppy to go into his crate. Instead, profusely praise him as he goes in his crate on his. Youthful young puppies, especially, could be somewhat frightened of the kennel when it is initial unveiled. Should you pressure these to key in it their worry might develop into terror. Their organic curiosity will eventually override their anxiety.

Look at your dogs individuality while you get started your training course. Be sure to commence gradually if your pet has intense inclinations. By trying to exert power over a pet dog that would rather be superior, the family pet might react assertively towards you together with derail your education ideas.

Be nice with benefits when instruction your pet dog. Tend not to be scared of supplying an excessive amount of praise or too many goodies. Rewarding your pet encourages him to keep the behaviour that guided up to the reward. Tend not to hesitate of investing too much time with instruction your puppy. It will pay off.

Invest some time training your pet dog in a number of areas together with distinct interruptions. After Fido is located easily at home with out distractions, instruct him to stay outdoors, in the pet playground, and then in places with plenty of individuals. This can help your pet comply with commands dependably in any situation irrespective of disruptions.

Whenever your dog is not going to do what you need, inform him "No!" then redirect him. Show patience and calm. Your pet wants to make you happy, but occasionally pet dogs just dont know what is expected of these. In no way struck or yell on your canine. Should you yell and hit, your pet dog will just think you are unmanageable. You want your pet to believe in you together with regard you because the pack leader, so stay relaxed and consistent.

You must know just how your pet dog believes and reacts before you can truly realize why these are performing certain things. When you know this, you are able to teach your pet dog better. Given that a single knows a tad bit more regarding their dog they could give him much better instruction.

Read more

Dancing with your dog a new type of freestyle obedience!

Doggie freestyle dance isnt really a new thing, but it is relatively new to the public. It developed in Canada out of freestyle heeling as an entertaining way to compete in obedience. When costumes and dance steps were added to heeling routines to music, dog dancing took on the form of a dramatic routine. Although the possibilities are endless, there are many things you can do with your dog to create a dance that is both fun, but also a great way to work on heeling and also communication. I have recently been asked to start a cha-cha with your dog class at Bosleys in New West. It will be held on Friday nights at seven until eight and begin on August 9th.

This summer I had the opportunity to attend a seminar with Dante Camacho who is an agility master and also a free style dance competitor and instructor. Here is a video on how to get started on targeting and also on how to build the foundations of the tricks you can transfer to dance routines. It is fun to train these behaviours, then link them together into a routine to music. The music is key to the performance and you need to pick a beat that suits you and your dog. You also need to consider what works in terms of the speed at which your dog can perform the behaviours.

Check out this video of Dante Camacho demonstrating the foundations of heeling and targeting!

Check out Dante and his targeting demo:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSFe7w181iQ

Read more

Ways to Train a Dog at Home Usual Mistakes to Stay clear of

You have got yourself a pet or young puppy of your dream but have no experience or understanding about the best ways to train dog so that he can become your faithful and obedient buddy. Once you have actually discovered to interact with your animal, the job to practice your pet at house will no longer remain tough.

 

 Keep in mind that pet dogs are wise animals and are quick students too. Canines are always in the process of finding out brand-new things each day. The moment a brand-new born puppy open its eyes, it starts absorbing actions from its surrounding. Either those actions fall in the classification of loyal behavior or not, it still does exactly what he desires unless he is instructed by someone. When in residence or in public, many owners of canines spend a number of hours with their pet to make them comply with and follow the policies. Unfortunately not all them succeed in training a dog that they are proud of.

The most typical error that nearly 75 % of the pet dog owners make is that they scream at their pet dogs when the canine either does not obey its owner or does something makings the owner annoyed. Remember that by doing this you will not have the ability to raise a confident dog and would just be making your pet more scared and confused.

To train dogs by punishing or beating is likewise not encouraged. Never hit or spank your pet dog. There can be lots of reasons that lead to striking a pet dog, the most typical is that dogs have a habit to remove inside house even when they have been trained to do so outdoors. Dealing this sort of behavior, you need to initially make yourself believe that hitting will not clean the mess that has actually already been created and it will likewise not make a dog realize why he is being treated in this manner.

Many dog owners fail to connect with their pet effectively. They use different signals to send out in the same message to their pet. For instance when they wish to call their pet dog, they often use one hand and occasionally make use of both hands therefore making it tough for the dog to comprehend exactly what his master desires from him. This is a very fundamental residence training mistake that you should prevent at all costs considering that it will prolong the training duration.

It is actually unfortunate to discover that bulk of the puppies and canines are returned to their shelters or previous owners just since the brand-new owners either failed to make those pet dogs obey or they were too lazy acting as they did not understood how to train a dog. With little effort and some perseverance, pets can end up being clever and loyal pets and will make their owner happy instead of being humiliated or fretted.

To find even more in-depth techniques and tips on "Dog house Training" to train your canine or young puppy in your home, Click Link Below

Read more

Boring Puppy Educate It Some Tips With One Of These Ideas!

Pet dogs are some of the most lovable, loyal critters on this planet. Nonetheless, also, they are among the most mischievous, disobedient critters, too. Do you get sick and tired of locating your footwear, household furniture, carpet and many other valuables ruined from your pet(s)? Are you feeling such as you do not have other decision but to quit on your own puppy, simply because she or he will never pay attention to any order on your part? Nicely, youre reading through the proper report. This article discusses some great step-by-move strategies to workout your pet into behaving correctly and obeying every single demand. By following these tips, your pet will briefly be the ideal house dog!

Always employ your dogs name when issuing directions. When coaching your pet, it is essential to be able to get and sustain their interest. With your dogs title when giving a demand will make them concentration. Utilize your dogs label often. Get them used to both ability to hear and responding to it.

Exercising is an important part associated with a dogs training course. Creatures that are restless and cooped up are more likely to take action out and possess difficulty following guidelines. Taking your pet out to get a every day move or taking those to a nearby canine portion can help them to achieve success.

Bad ways of instruction your puppy dont operate. Just as with human beings, positive support of behaviors is far more efficient. Use praise, goodies and perform time to demonstrate your dog that you will be pleased about their efficiency. If he are not able to do what you are inquiring him, will not punish him or yell at him. He will connect trying to do the process with negativity and will steer clear of the process even tougher when.

Housebreaking your dog needs time to work. The trick is being regular when educating him exactly where its not acceptable for him in order to alleviate him or her self and consistent within the information that you send with regards to the place you expect him to look. This may be over a mat inside the house, on the steer when you get him outside the house or operating free of charge within a fenced yard.

When training your pet, make sure you impose each and every order you give. This helps your puppy recognize that they have to listen to you once you give you a demand. In case your dog understands to consider that he or she can can dismiss you when you offer a command, it could be very difficult to proper this.

When trying to train your puppy, always strengthen positive behaviors even if youre not positively inside a training session. Its easy to remember to incentive your pet during the training session, but its in the same way crucial that you reward your dog for anyone trained behaviours the other time, too. This strengthens an effective link to the puppy in between the behavior as well as the reward.

In case your canine is not being attentive when you are undertaking dog training, make certain that your pet is not sickly. You will see no advantages to penalizing your dog if it is not sensing well, and it will have extremely damaging consequences later on. In case you are unable to evaluate if the canine is sick then contact a veterinarian for help.

When canines is most likely the most sensible thing to actually afflict you, they can also be just about the most dangerous stuff also. Dogs could have a brain of their, but as talked about earlier in this article, they have a smooth spot for their users. Simply being that pet dogs have this delicate place, it can be quite easy to coach them. If you totally adhere to the above mentioned tricks and tips to successfully instruction your pet, you can expect to never ever take into consideration getting rid of your dog once again!

Read more

Proper Use of Slip Collars

"The slip collar, commonly miscalled a choke collar, is available in various styles, most people will associate the chain slip collar as the primary training collar. Slip collars are available in all types of materials from chain, cord, elastic stretch (bungee cord), fabric, flat strap, and safeties.

“Choke Chains” are not intended to choke your dog! The intent is that when the collar is tugged it will pinch the brachial nerve in the dogs neck (much like pinching the funny bone) or according to some people it is intended to simulate how a mother will nip a puppy on the neck to correct it. The Slip Collar is NOT intended to choke your dog. If your dog is choking with the use of this collar then use a different collar!

If you are going to use a slip collar; be it chain, cord, leather, or strap, learn how to use it properly before you put it on your dog. Do some reading. Watch them in use. The first consideration is size. A collar that is too large will only detract from its primary effectiveness. Measure the size of your dogs neck high on the neck, not close to the shoulders. Then add an inch or two. That will be the size you want to buy. The proper fit should just slide over the dogs head without unduly pulling on the dogs ears.

Don’t buy large thinking “they’ll grow into it”. Instead buy 4 collars, one the correct size and another 2 inches larger and 2 other types of training collars in the proper size. Use the collar which gives you the level of correction you need. There is nothing that says you have to use one collar and one collar only during training. If a collar works during training for Sit/Stay but doesn’t work during training to Heel feel free to move to another collar. Switch back and forth. There is a benefit to this in that your dog will not become collar smart.

There is only two ways to put a slip collar on. You’d think people would get it right 50% of the time by chance, this doesn’t seem to be the case. The free end which connects to the lead should be over the dogs neck not come under. The position is important, over the neck the collar immediately releases pressure when slack is given. Under the neck this is not the case.

In use there should be no tension in the lead and approximately six inches of slack, the collar should be completely relaxed. Giving corrections with the slip collar should be short tugs. DON’T haul back like you’re setting a gaff in a fish. It is very easy to damage the dogs throat. DON’T let your dog run and hit the end of the lead. DON’T hold steady pressure on the lead constricting the dogs breathing. NEVER yank on the lead in anger. You can crush the dogs throat and kill them. Yes sad to say it does happen.

If the dog is hauling on the lead and choking constantly, this is not the appropriate time to use the slip collar. You must first teach it to not pull using another method. Many other training tools are available, such as martingale collars, halties (gentle leaders) and harnesses.

The slip collar is a training collar only. It should be on your dog only when training and under your direct control. If your dog is running free and having a blast being off lead then it shouldn’t be wearing a slip collar. I have seen a dog, wearing a chain slip collar, run and jump through a brush pile. The free ring got caught in a branch effectively hanging the dog. In this instance the owner was close enough to see what had happed and immediately rescued the dog, this is not always the outcome.

Remove the slip collar as soon as you are done training. Slip collars should never be on dogs that are tied outside. The dog is not under your direct control when tied out. Remember it is easy for a dog to back out of a slip collar. Also never leave the slip collar on the dog when you are not home. It could get caught on something and strangle the dog."

Note: I didnt personally write this blog. It was information I found on the internet, on the Fort Smith Animal Society website, so I cant credit the trainer. I have put the information in quotations, as not to mislead anyone. In closing, training tools are only as effective and humane as we are in using them. Any sort of correction, or "punishment" should be done thoughtfully and carefully, with the welfare of the animal as a priority.

Read more

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

Read more

Adventures of Gracy Housebreaking and Socialization

Foster Girl Gracy in the dog basket.

I am happy to report that Foster Girl Gracy is making great progress! We are very proud of her here at the Dog Training/Foster Shack!

When she first joined our pack, she was not housebroken and needed some work on socialization. As you may remember, Gracy is about 6 months old. She was very sick during the first few months of her life and had to remain in her crate most of the time. As a result, she was never really socialized much and she was not housebroken.

Socialization:

She is a very sweet girl. She loves people. However, she gets stressed when there are too many people or other dogs around. This became apparent when we first started taking her to adoption events at Petco in Peachtree City,GA. The first day we took her to an indoor adoption event, she immediately became overwhelmed and extremely stressed. I had to take her back to the shack after about 10 minutes.

Gracy enjoying the backyard sunshine
 at the Dog Training/Foster Shack

At the adoption event the next weekend, I kept her in a crate right next to a chair in which I was seated. She was still nervous and a little stressed but she did better. I would occasionally let her our of the cage to sit on my lap. The other volunteers also gave her some attention. This seemed to make her more comfortable.

Last weekend at the adoption event we put her in a small pen that was open on the top. She did much better. 

During those three weeks, between adoption events, I was really trying to make her more comfortable around people. She went over to her foster grandma and grandpas house several times. Each time she became more comfortable over there. She loved the attention and the treats! I also worked with her around other dogs by taking some of the other pack members on walks to grandma and grandpas house with her. 

She has made a great deal of progress over the last few weeks. However, as with many things in dog training, it takes patience and routine. We have to slowly introduce her to more people and dogs and make it a very positive experience for her.

Housebreaking:

With Gracy, we had a fairly unique but not unheard of issue. Because of the extended time she had to spend in the crate when she was sick, she learned to eliminate in the crate. When she first arrived at the shack, the crate was the only place that she would eliminate. That made for some very nasty clean-ups.

We began watching for signs that she needed to eliminate (i.e circling a spot, stress, etc). When we saw these signs we immediately took her outside. We also took her outside immediately when she had accidents in the house. We stopped keeping her in the crate at night and when we were away. We just left the door open on the crate. We also kept her where we could see her when we were home.

Dr. Phil McBeagle. He has no direct connection to this post
He is just a cute little foster guy in our pack. He will
be available for adoption very soon!

I noted how long it usually takes for her to eliminate after eating  (it was about 5 mins) and I began taking her out 5 minutes after meals.  We also took her out about once an hour when we were home and she was awake.

She still could not make it through the night without accidents. So, we set an alarm for 3:00 am and one of us would wake her up and take her out at 3:00. Most of the time she eliminated outside at 3:00 am. 

Eventually we noticed that she could make it through the night. 

I am pleased to announce that she rarely has accidents inside anymore! We are very proud of our little foster girl. 

Her housebreaking was difficult but, because we were diligent and developed a routine for her, the effort has been very successful!

I am writing this not to blow my own horn but to encourage my readers. If you have a dog with housebreaking or socialization problems, the situation is far from hopeless. I know that it is extremely frustrating but, you can be successful! It takes proper technique, determination and routine.

The Lovely Shane dressed for Christmas working on master
degree classes from the office at the Dog Training Shack

If you need help with the technique please contact me at anytime, I will be happy to help! As I always tell you, "Polite Dogs = Happy People". Let me help you get happy today!

Gracy is available for adoption. If you are considering adding a new addition to your pack, please, please, please, consider adoption! There are many little guys and girls like Gracy who desperately need and want a forever home. If you are in the Atlanta Area please contact me and I will be happy to get you in touch with a wonderful local rescue group!

Till Next Time

-William-

Read more

How to help a dog that is afraid of nail clipping

Our little Beagle, Cody really does not like to have his nails clipped. He is a senior guy and his nails are thick and they seem to grow fast.

The Lovely Shane and I adopted Cody in June. Since then, we have noticed that he is really anxious in certain situations. He does not like getting shots at the veterinarian. I cant say that I blame him, I am afraid of needles too! However, Cody yelps like he is in extreme pain before the needle ever touches him. (I have stopped yelping when the doctor pulls out the needle... now I close my eyes)
He only has to see the needle to become anxious. I suppose he is associating the needle with the pain of the stick ( not an irrational thing to do at all in my opinion).

Cody in his basket.

He is also afraid of the nail clippers. I speculate that perhaps at some point in his life, someone accidentally cut into the quick and hurt him. Of course now, I speculate, that he is associating the pain he once experienced with the nail clipper. We could use one of those dremel tool type devices that grinds the nail but I doubt he would be thrilled about that either.

The problem, in my opinion (based upon experience with other dogs), is that he is associating people doing things to his nails with some painful earlier experience. Much like people, some dogs are just naturally more anxious than others. Cody is generally slightly more high strung than our Whopper Beagle, Copper. Copper generally does not get nearly as anxious as Cody.

There is a reason I am writing about Codys anxiety here. There is a technique for addressing this problem. I have had a lot of success with it in the past. Dog Trainers call this technique Counter Conditioning and Desensitization. Sometimes, just so we can sound cool, we abbreviate it CC&D.

Cody and I ready for a little nap.

It is outside the scope of this blog post to teach you all the details of this method. However, the way I usually explain it to people is as follows:

As I mentioned, the real issue here seems to be that the dog is associating pain or something negative with the nail clippers. Simply put, our objective is to get the dog to associate something positive with the dreaded nail clippers rather than something negative.

It is important that you remain patient during this process. It will not happen immediately. It takes slow, methodical steps. Like virtually everything else in dog training, patience and routine are really the keys to success here. It is very important that you not get frustrated.

What we do is find something that the dog loves.It should be something that motivates him. Something that is of "high value" to the dog. For some dogs this may be a food item like a frankfurter (we do not say hot dog :) ) or cheese. For some dogs this may be a favorite toy.

Me when I learn the Doctor is going to need
to use a needle.

Once we have identified the motivation, we very slowly, in a controlled environment begin to get the dog to associate the motivator with the nail clippers. In other words, we are desensitizing him (making him less sensitive) to the nail clippers by associating the nail clippers with the motivator (maybe a nice piece of stinky cheese). This helps to "counter-condition" him from associating the clippers with pain and he begins associating the clippers with fun good stuff.

I know this sounds like a lot of psychological theory. I am not a psychology professor (however I do occasionally play one on T.V. :) ) I do however know what my experience has been .It does really work. I have seen it work many times. In the beginning, I was skeptical of this technique. I am a reformed believer now!

The Lovely Shane and I are going to begin this with Cody very soon. I will keep you updated on our progress.

If you have a dog that is afraid of the nail clippers or anything similar, this is a technique that we can use to help your little guy or girl. There is hope! It just takes the proper technique, time, and patience.

Please contact me and I will be glad to help you help your dog to deal with his/her anxiety.

Till Next Time

William

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

Read more

More Adventures of Dr Phil McBeagle

Who could not love that face!

The Lovely Shane and I are happy to report that Dr. Phil is progressing nicely here at the Dog Training/Foster Shack!

He is now current on all his vaccinations. He has been heart worm tested and is heart worm negative. He has a cool new microchip. He has been neutered. It has been an eventful couple of weeks for this handsome Beagle.

As I mentioned earlier, he is now on the Copper Whopper diet and exercise plan. I think he is starting to lose a little weight and he is looking good.

He has been to the Saturday afternoon adoption events at Petco in Peachtree City, Georgia a couple of times now. He does very well there. He does not like to be in a crate or a x-pen though. He barks and howls in an attempt to get people to pet him. He stays with me on the leash and loves it! He loves all the attention from people in the store.

Dr. Phil is making good progress in his training as well. He is no longer afraid of doorways. He has learned the sit and down commands. We are now working on the leave it command and on waiting at doorways. He is getting much better at walking on the leash as well!

Dr. Phil enjoying some quality time with Cody and Trigger

As is common with Beagles and Hounds in general, Dr. Phil is very much ruled by his nose. Feeding times seem to be his favorite times of the day! We feed him twice a day as we do with the rest of our pack. He tends to guard his food. We are working with him to address this negative behavior. I think his previous people may have been feeding him three times a day. When he first got here, he followed be around giving me expectant looks around lunch time :) . 

Dr. Phil is a sweet little guy and would make a great addition to your pack! He is very quickly becoming a well behaved and polite little guy. As I tell you frequently, polite dogs = happy people. Dr. Phil will make someone very happy :).

Dr. Phil and his new buddy Copper the Whopper Beagle

If your dog is not as polite as you would like, please contact me at any time! There is hope!

Also, if you would like to add a dog to your pack, please consider adoption! Contact me for more information on Dr. Phil or for the names of some great rescue groups!

Till next time

-William-

Read more

How much does it cost to get the help of a professional dog trainer

The most often asked question I get lately is : "How much does it cost to train my dog?". This is a bit of a tricky question. It is sort of like asking a mechanic, "How much to fix my car? " when he has no information about what sort of trouble you are having with your vehicle.

There are different approaches to dog training and different methods. Which one is right for your situation is largely dependent on your ultimate training goals and the temperament and sometimes history of your dog. The cost also depends upon your expectations regarding the Trainer and the level of personal attention you will receive.

As I mentioned in an earlier post on Polite Dogs and Happy People, I provide in-home training services. I actually come out to your home and work with you and your dog. This has at least four advantages:

1. I can observe the dog in the environment in which he/she lives.

2. I can work with you to tailor a training plan to the unique needs of you and your dog.

3. You get my full attention, as opposed to group class settings where the Trainer is working with multiple dogs and people.

4. I can work with your schedule (i.e. lessons schedules are very flexible, we can meet at different times each week if needed.)

If you live within 20 miles of my home location in North Fayette County Georgia, the following is my general pricing schedule:

• $75.00 per session
• $405 for six session package (payable in advance)

If I have to travel outside the 20 mile perimeter that I mentioned there are additional expenses:

• $0.80 for each mile over 20 miles and under 100 miles (round trip)
• Over 100 miles contact me for a travel expense quote.

I provide a 10% discount for adopted/rescued dogs.

Okay now you know what I generally charge. 

Before you get "sticker shock" and run away screaming consider this:

Yes, I realize that you can go to your local big pet store and get six lessons for about $109.00. I used to teach these lessons at Petco in Peachtree City, Georgia. They are not bad and I will not hate you if you patronize these places. but you need to make an informed decision. 

Here are some things to remember about the big pet stores and their training:

• They will not allow dogs with aggression (dog/dog or dog/people) in the classes.
• They will not allow anxious dogs in the classes.
• The trainers are encouraged and in some cases forced to teach only large group classes
• These classes are intended to be a sales tool for the store. They are used to market and sell dog related products. This is not necessarily bad but, it is the reality. Petco did this when I was there and I interviewed with Petsmart and it was very apparent that they do this too.
• The experience and skill of the trainer varies very widely from store to store. If you choose to do this type of training I very strongly suggest that you observe a class before you spend the money.
• There is a structured lesson plan (curriculum) while this is not an inherently bad thing. It does not lend itself readily to individualized attention. When I worked at Petco, I had to teach certain things in each class. I did have some latitude to deal with individual students situations however, I did have to teach what was in the curriculum whether or not it made sense for an individual dog.

I will never use my sessions in an attempt to sell you a product. My lively-hood comes from helping you to train your dog to become a polite little girl or guy. It does not come from how much dog food ,no-pull harnesses, leashes, treats, crates, etc. that  I sell.

I will not turn your dog away simply because of aggression or anxiety . In fact separation anxiety is something with which I deal frequently! We will develop a plan together to deal with it properly.

I do not have a set curriculum. You and your dog a unique. Your dog training should be tailored to your needs. No cookie cutter training here.

But, I can not even come close to matching the price of these big box pet stores. No independent professional trainer doing individual lessons can match them. They are making almost no profit on Dog Training directly.  They expect to make their real profit on your product business. They actually told me in the Petco internal Dog Trainer Training that you, as my Dog Training student are "captive" for at least six hours in the store and suggested all sorts of ways for me to sell you products. Good or bad, this is the truth of the matter. They are not making much money on the classes, the real money is in what you buy when you are in the store for the six lessons!

And yes, I realize that they have an option for "individual lessons" for about $60.00 each. These are still aimed at selling product. And the restriction on aggression/anxiety remains. These individual lessons are still in the store.

My motivation is helping you to train your dog to be a polite, well behaved little girl or guy. It is not about selling you product!

There are also other organizations that provide in-home training. I caution you to be careful particularly with the franchise outfits like Barkbusters. These are not bad people but, they have their own "cookie cutter" like technique. The quality of the trainers also varies widely from one franchisee to another.

I find the following from the Bark Busters web page franchise section particularly alarming:

" I don’t know much about dog training. Can I still be a Bark Buster?
Yes. Bark Busters provides a comprehensive training at the launch of your business. This training program takes place at the National Training Academy outside of Denver, Colorado and provides a great deal of hands-on work with dogs, as well as providing practical knowledge about how to successfully operate a dog training business.
  
How do I become a trained Bark Buster?
All Bark Busters go through a comprehensive training program located at the National Training Academy outside of Denver, Colorado. After completing the training program, you will be fully prepared to launch your business immediately. We will also work to publicize your business and drive customers to you from your very first day of operations. "

It appears that you do not need to have even ever owned or cared for a dog in your life. If you have the almost $70,000 franchise start up fees and complete their training you are a "Bark Buster". I am really not bashing them, I just dont care for the business model. I am unsure how they would handle a dog that does not fit the cookie-cutter.

And, by the way, Bark Busters will cost you, in the end, significantly more than my services would. 

I know this post seems like thinly veiled advertising of my services and to a large extent that is true. However, cost is a frequent question that I get. I really hope this post clears things up for you on cost.

If you have questions/concerns, please contact me at anytime.

Till next time

-William -

Wiliam Moore

William Moore Canine Training

fayettedogtrainer@gmail.com

678-702-4791

Read more

Acquire A Companion By means of Training Your Dog Recommendations

It may seem that it must be extremely hard to show a classic dog new tricks, but are you aware that there are strategies accustomed to educate any puppy new techniques, old and young. Nonetheless, you arent will be successful in proper dog training up until you understand what it requires to get the good results you would like. With recommendations such as these, you can study some great skills in proper dog training.

It is very important go on a leadership part while education your puppy. This does not mean that you have to try to push your animal to flex for your will. Acting being a trainer and displaying him what you need him to do by rewarding his measures can help your pet dog do well.

Whilst training your pet, discover his physique terminology and basic behavior carefully. Try to find signs of enthusiasm. Is his tail wagging? Does he follow you all around? This reveals hes ready to understand. When you see your pet is scared, bored or stressed, end what you are actually performing and reevaluate.

Make sure you only say the control expression 1 time when education your pet. It is necessary to never recurring yourself, as your dog will start to count on you to definitely repeat the instructions several times. You want your pet to answer your orders the instant you say them.

When coaching your dog simply to walk on the leash, do not forget that your pet dog must stick to in which you direct, not the other way around. Dogs are package animals, along with the head of your load up generally trips in front. You need your dog to view you as the head, so they should figure out how to walk associated with you.

There are many different methods to coach a pet dog. Much like all human beings learn in different ways, all canines understand differently. You need to investigation some diverse education styles to see which of them perform best for the specific dog. When in question, speak to a expert and obtain their view or seek professional coaching providers.

To avoid your pet from biting, you must express ache every time it pieces you together with then overlook your dog for several minutes or so. As soon as your dog bites you lightly, reward it by replying to their nipping and messing around with your pet. Make sure your pet dog recognizes the main difference between biting and gentle nipping.

To teach a dog cautious considered is needed from the proprietor. Before you begin to train a dog you ought to pre-plan what their demand phrases will probably be to become the most beneficial. Terms which are not commonly used will assist them stick out for that dog. If someone knows one more language that may also provide a lot more phrases and noises to utilize in education your dog.

When instruction a pet dog which is not housebroken you should reduce the canines time for you to wander at home. By keeping the dog generally through the owner it reduces the time it requires to proceed to the toilet in your house. Your pet will never want to go by the homeowner and should maintain it until finally let exterior.

To aid your puppy discover great bathroom routines, coaching them using a crate is advisable. Canines dont like using the washroom near in which they rest or devote enough time, so employ this all-natural personal preference of dogs and help them learn to utilize the bathroom outside the house or perhaps in a desired area.

An frequently disregarded basic need with proper dog training is family members instruction. Your pet dog will probably be baffled and dismayed when numerous members of the family give commands in a variety of methods. Coach your husband or wife, children and someone else that will have constant experience of your dog about the appropriate orders and methods you utilize for coaching.

For puppies that loathe nail-trims, get them accustomed to having their paws cut a step at a time. Initial, hang out with your canine when shes relax and laying down. Feel her paws lightly throughout petting, and treat and compliments when she doesnt respond. Keep on this process above weeks and phase it to lightly picking up her paws. Youll gradually present the nail trimmers without a trim, then ultimately, trimming. Its an extensive road, but you will save funds on nail trims later on.

Develop your dogs focus span by raising challenges. Should your dog understands a control properly at home try it exterior on a peaceful sidewalk. If he is successful at these jobs persistently provide him to your a lot more loud location like the park your car. This grows his consideration span and raises his chances of paying attention to you around mayhem.

This post provides a lot of assistance that can be used to get to know training your dog a little better and comprehend just what it requires to train your dog new techniques regardless how aged it really is. You could start giving instructions and having a reaction, whilst learning the very best techniques to support your pet dog recognize new instructions easier.

Read more

Happy Independence Day! What do I do when my buddy is scared of fireworks

The Lovely Shane, Cuddles the Corgi mix, Copper the Whopper Beagle, Cody the Little Beagle and wish you a happy and safe July 4th! The picture is from a laser light and fireworks show at the State Park in Stone Mountain, Georgia. If you have never seen one of these you should. This time of the year, I think they do them weekly.

Firecrackers and certain types of fireworks that makes noise is not legal for home use in Georgia. So, I am certain that none of my Atlanta area readers ever encounter loud fireworks in your neighborhoods :) . Many years ago, I lived in a sub-division in eastern Cobb County, Georgia. All fireworks were illegal at that time. It sounded like a war zone around my house on New Years eve and July 4th. I am certain this was from some local licensed fireworks show and not my neighbors with  contraband firecrackers and M-80s :).

At the time I lived in Cobb County, I had a very nervous Beagle named Boomer. Like most of my Beagle buddies over the years, Boomer was a rescue. He was abused as a young puppy and had many anxiety issues. He was very scared of the noise that accompanied these local fireworks shows.

There are desensitization techniques that can be utilized for dogs that are scared of fireworks or thunder. They basically involve exposing the dog to loud noises that mimic the fireworks like recordings of fireworks, etc. You do this in a very controlled way and begin to associate good things with the offensive noise. Desensitization takes a while and if you are consistent with it, it can be very effective. However, the occurrence of fireworks is so infrequent that avoidance may be a better technique.

This may sound like common sense and the obvious answer, but I always kept Boomer inside during these fireworks displays. I also tried to mask the sound by having music playing or the TV tuned to one of his favorite channels.

It is always important to remember that, to a very large extent, your little buddy takes cues from you. So, with that in mind, try not to react to the fireworks. Do not make a big deal about them or call him poor dog and pet him every time you hear a boom. Also, if he wants to hide under a table or something, or if he wants to sit next to you on the couch, do not discourage this behavior. If your buddy sees that you are not reacting, it will probably help in calming him as well.

It has been my experience over the years that my little buddies who were afraid of thunderstorms were also afraid of fireworks and gunfire. So, some of the same techniques may be effective. I make this point because with many dogs that have moderate anxiety, the Thundershirt product is very effective. It does not work with every dog but I had many customers when I worked at Petco who said the product made a huge difference in anxiety level. There are also pheromone based sprays that seem to be effective with some dogs that have moderate anxiety. As in the case of the Thundershirt, this does not seem to work with every dog.

In extreme cases of anxiety, in other words if the dog is so anxious that he is hurting himself or being very destructive, your veterinarian can advise you about potentially using anti-anxiety medication for situations that you know are anxiety provoking.

If you do not have a regular veterinarian or if you suspect your vet is an evil alien :) , I will be happy to assist you in finding one.... I hope my readers appreciate my attempt at humor and dont just find it strange :).


I think our newest pack member, little Cody, may have some issues with fireworks this year. I have noticed that he is anxious during thunder storms. He is not relaxed like in this picture. On the contrary, he follows me everywhere and loves to lean on me an sit as close to me as possible. I will let you know how he does with the fireworks (if we have any in my law-abiding neighborhood).

Seriously, If you need help with an anxious dog or if you have any dog training needs, dog related questions, etc. , please contact me at any time!

I hope that you all have a great July 4th! The Lovely Shane is helping to care for her grandfather while her parents take a little out of town trip. I plan to take care of our pack and

 do some bathroom remodeling here at the Dog Trainer Shack. There is one other special activity in which I am going to participate: There is a radio contest this weekend called 13 Colonies. Amateur Radio Operators running special stations in all 13 original colonies are making contacts. If you contact all 13
of them you get a really cool certificate! I already have a start. Last night I contacted the New Hampshire station from the shack here. I was only operating at an output power of 5 watts. For those of you who are unfamiliar with radio, I probably would have used more power to yell out the window :) .

Well... Have a great 4th! Be careful.

Till Next Time

-William-

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

Read more