Sit Pretty Dog Training

02/09/2021

“He’s happier, because he’s a dog… if you baby something, they become a baby and they become dependant on you. He’s not a baby; he’s a dog.” - Chad Davis 🙌

Read that again!! This is one of the most common issues that I come across on a daily basis and I believe that it is responsible for 100% of the behavioural issues that I see. Dogs are not babies!! 🤱 Whilst they may share similar needs and characteristics treating your dog like a baby can land you in a world of hurt. 🙈

Dogs (much like toddlers) need for their human “parents” to set consistent rules, boundaries and limitations for them to be HAPPY and well balanced. 🐶 If you choose to “baby” them instead by showering them with constant affection, excuse their “bratty” behaviour and ignore their primal needs you will end up with a little menace. 😬

Don’t be fooled into thinking that this is a problem reserved for snappy “Beverly Hills handbag dogs.” 👛 I see this with all sorts of dogs both large and small. Common behavioural issues such as: separation anxiety, resource guarding (possessiveness of people and/or objects) and reactivity are all things that can be linked to treating your dog like a baby. 🐾

31/08/2021

Be careful about what you teach your dog… 🤭 I often get asked by clients to teach their dog certain behaviours or tricks that they see dogs doing in movies, on tv or on social media… and whilst these “behaviours” look cute in a controlled setting ask yourself: “Would I be happy with my dog doing this without permission?” 😅

A classic example is “speak!” I’ve been teaching Stryder to “speak” on command for something I want to film on my personal account. It has been pretty easy because he’s naturally a chatterbox so he picked it up fairly quickly. 😅

But he got into the habit recently of “speaking” when he wanted things or was getting impatient. 😒 Which wasn’t exactly great when I was trying to take a nap 😴 or have a conversation that he wasn’t part of. 🙈

My saving grace is that Stryder “mimes” speaking because he learnt it inside; so he uses his “inside voice” 🤫 so it’s not to much of an issue. I definitely wouldn’t have attempted this if I hadn’t already taught him volume control (“inside voice”) and installed an “off” switch. 😅 Which is why I wouldn’t ever teach this to a puppy… 🐶

So before you teach your dog to “open the fridge” or “speak” ask yourself: “Am I comfortable with my dog making this choice without permission?” If the answer is no, then maybe give it a skip. 😊

Has your dog gone ever gone rouge? Let us know down below. 🐾

03/08/2021

When I was younger I wanted a bloodhound. There is just something about their saggy skin, big floppy ears and soulful eyes that I am a sucker for. 😍 So when it came time to look for a new dog I decided to do a little bit of research into what it takes to own one.

Here’s what I already knew:
1. Bloodhounds are scent hounds used for hunting and tracking.
2. Bloodhounds are larger breed dogs that love to eat. 😋
3. Bloodhounds are couch potatoes that lay on the front porch all day.
4. Bloodhounds are adorable and great with kids. 🥰

Here’s what I found out:
1. Bloodhounds are energetic and will not just sleep on my porch all day.
2. Bloodhounds are independent and often described as stubborn, they require early training and constant supervision whilst out and about. 🙉
3. They are ruled by their nose and are prone to “wanderlust” if they catch an interesting scent.
4. BLOODHOUNDS PUT THE “D” IN DROOL!! 🤤
5. Bloodhounds are not for me.

Here’s what I know about myself:
1. I’m a control freak… Whilst I’m trying to work on this one, I know that I prefer my dog to “jump” when I say “jump”.
2. I have livestock and poultry so having a “Hunting” or “Tracking” breed might not be the wisest choice at the moment especially as I don’t hunt.
3. I don’t do DROOL!! 🤢

That’s why it’s important not only to do your research but, to consider your own personality and lifestyle when selecting a potential new dog and make your decisions based on that. Be honest with yourself and what you need from your future dog, rather than basing your decision on the cuteness factor alone. 🥺 Dogs become considerably less cute when they are doing things like flinging drool or regularly taking unscheduled excursions by themselves. 😅 Be sure to factor in things like your CURRENT, hobbies, activity levels, financial budget and lifestyle to ensure that you’re choosing a dog that will fit right in.

Let us know what you think in the comments. ☺️

24/05/2021

Calling All Breed Ambassadors!! 📣
Did you know that whenever you take your dog out in public you automatically become an ambassador for your chosen breed of dog. 🐶
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This means that it's YOUR responsibility to make sure that your dog is well behaved in all public settings to ensure that you represent your dog breed in the best possible way. 👌
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This is especially important if you've chosen to get a "powerful" breed like a German Shepherd, Mastiff, Rottweiler or "Bully Breed". These breeds have undeservedly "bad wraps" for being scary and aggressive so they will be met more often than not with fear whilst out and about. This means that you have a greater responsibility to make sure your dog is polite and well behaved to prove those people wrong. 👍
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Remember that taking your dog to brunch is a privilege not a right... and not every person in the world likes dogs. 🥂Ensuring that your dog is quiet and well mannered in public settings will ensure that not only you but the next dog be invited back every time. You might even be lucky and change some minds about your chosen breed of dog. 🥰

15/01/2021

How well do you know your dog’s breed?!

One of the first questions that we’ll ask you at Sit Pretty is: “Why did you chose your particular dog?”

The reason why we ask this is because every breed of dog has been bred for a specific purpose, and knowing what those purposes are will make your life so much easier. Each breed has pros and cons and different needs, not just exercise and grooming but handling and training requirements as well. Knowing how and why your dog’s breed came to be is an extremely important step to understanding your dog’s unique quirks and being able to manage them accordingly.

Not sure where to start?

Whilst the internet is a great starting point, remember to fact check the sources and take everything you read with a grain of salt, remember that everyone has an angle and if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. I find it better to ask people who work with your chosen breed of dog as they are often less sentimental. Another great place to learn about your chosen breed is breed specific rescues. This is another great place to look for honest information as these people have often seen the very best and most importantly the very worst of your chosen breed. Dog parks are also a great place to glean information, but try to find people who have older dogs, well behaved dogs, as opposed to first time breed or dog owners.

Things to remember:

Not every dog within the breed will be the same. Just because you may know people, or have owned a particular dog in the past, getting the same colour, gender and breed won’t guarantee the same personality type.

Where you get your pup from has a huge impact on certain personality traits, so make sure that if you buy a dog from a working home that you research “working” type dogs as opposed to pets.

Even small dogs could’ve been bred to work. So even your cute little “lap dog” could be a working dog in disguise.

Let us know what you find out about your dog down in the comments.

01/06/2020

01/06/2020

01/06/2020