Collars

 

Remember that your dog must be in control for you to have the ability to make them listen. When you give a command you must only give it once! You can allow one or two seconds for them to respond, and then you should enforce that command. You should also make sure that you have your dog’s attention when you give a command, because you might be setting them up for failure and be forced to give a correction that you otherwise would not have given if you had the dog’s attention. Practice the "Watch me command" often so you can command their attention when you need it. You must have some type of command collar and a lead on your dog at all times when they are in training. The only exceptions are when they are unattended or asleep. If you cannot enforce the command do not give it! Notice the command collar in this picture of Dozer. The collar is attached to a short lead so you are able to give any corrections that may be necessary. If you would like to know more about command collars and how they work you can check out the video on my web site www.k9academics.com  regarding command collars.

Positive Reinforcement Training

Tip of the Day.

One problem with so called dog trainers is the information they put out seems to be as different as the people themselves. There is an old joke that the only thing two dog trainers can agree on is that the third guy is doing it wrong!

We need to apply some common sense in our training. Some trainers say no food reward, and some say it is ok. For me personally, I say go with what works! I do use food as a reward, but I tapper that food off as tricks are learned, and then apply the food reward to new tricks. We need to think of training our dogs like having an emotional bank account with them. Every time we use a negative reinforcement we are making a withdrawal from that account, and every time we use positive reinforcement we are making a deposit in that account. At the end of the day we want our account to be in the positive. So, food reward is a great way to avoid negative corrections. I can get a dog to lay down by pulling on the command collar after the dog does not respond to my command within one to two seconds, and they will go down. However, if I use food to lure the dog to the ground he still lays down and gets a treat at the end causing the dog to have a positive experience instead of the correction, and that is money in the bank!

Agressive Heelers

Tip of the Day.
Just wanted to follow up on last night’s message. I was working with a family today that had a beautiful Blue Heeler. They were having trouble with the dog nipping at the heels of their small children and were considering putting the dog down because they thought the dog was aggressive. I asked them if they knew anything about the breed, and why they picked that dog. They told me t...hat the dog was cute!
This is what I was talking about in my last message. The dog was just fine and not aggressive at all. Blue Heelers are cattle dogs, and it is quite common for them to chase small children, because that is what they were bread to do with cattle. Since they have no cattle, and live in an apartment, the dog saw the children as the next best thing! I told them it would not be necessary to put the dog down, and we are going to take the dog to a sheep farm so the dog can expel some of that emergency. They are also going to make sure the dog is getting two or three hours a day of vigorous exercise.
We are setting ourselves up for failure as well as our dogs when we get a dog based on its looks. All you guys out there know what happens to you when you pick a woman based on her looks and nothing else. It doesn't work with humans or dogs!!

Dogs Gone Bad

Happy New Year everyone! I took some time off over the holiday season to finish my house. That Job is done, so back to work!! The New Year reminds me of the commitment we make when bring a new dog or puppy into our house. It is very important to know as much as possible about the dog you are bringing home. So many people are impulse buyers, and that can be a big mistake when getting a dog. You have to make sure you are getting a dog that fits your lifestyle, not just the cutest one in the bunch. If you would like some help picking out a dog K9 Academics is here to help. A professional can assist you in making a good choice for you and your family so the dog you get has the best chance of finding that forever home!

Problem Dogs

Tip of the Day.

Tonight I want to remind everyone that the rehabilitation of a dog can take some time. Humans often think of dog training like dieting. Humans spend years putting on weight, and then all of a sudden they want to be skinny again. The problem starts when humans do not invest the time they need to solve the problem. Humans have trouble with being consistent. Dog training is the same. Humans have a dog for a couple of years and some of the bad behavior the dog has early on is not corrected, and as the dog gets older the problems get worse. They seek professional help, but do not understand that dog rehabilitation is a process not an event. Not only does the dog have to learn new rules, but the humans have to be retrained as well. No dog can lead a well balanced life until owners take responsibility for the shape there dog is in now, vow to change, let go of the past, meet the physical and emotional needs of the dog, and finally take back control of our house by stepping into the pack leader role. Remember, the longest journey begins with the first step!

Guard Dogs

Tip of the Day.

Tonight I got to spend some time with a terrific family and their dog Chloe. She is a champion German Sheppard, and she was a bit naughty. She goes after people who enter the house, or just come to close to the family. This is one drawback to protection type dogs. This type of behavior is a direct result of not establishing the proper pack leadership in the home. Chloe has taken that leadership role on for herself. Her instinct tells her to protect her pack at any cost. As pack leaders in our home, we must remember that is what happens when humans do not take the role on. Now they have a dog that is becoming harder to handle. Never fear I am here! We spent several hours reshaping her behavior, and I went from being attacked in the house to having her gently take treats from my hand. Chloe and her family will be a work in progress, and I am really looking forward to working with them in the future. I will keep everyone up to date on this story.

Dog Training

Tip of the Day

Tonight I am going talk about taking time and having patience when it comes to dog training. When you are training a dog, you must remember that they do not speak our language. You have to learn to communicate with them on a level that they can understand. Dogs want to please us, but they often do not understand what it is that we are asking of them. It is important to communicate with them through body language, and energy. I am able to train my dogs without saying very much at all. Next time you are working with your dog, take a second when you are not getting the response you want and think to yourself, does this dog understand me, and how can I improve the way I communicate. Dogs want to live a balanced life, but if they do not receive it all they have left is instinct. Dog training is a process not an event. Remember DOGS RULE! WOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!