02/23/2022
Positive reinforcement is not the same thing as permissive. Remember: we get what we reward.
Swipe through the slides to learn about the differences with positive and permissive and an example!
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Come When Called
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Dog Training and Behavior Counseling
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02/16/2022
Have you recently brought home a puppy and are looking to work on some manners? This is the class for you! ✨
Join us Wednesday nights starting on the 23rd, at the Olney Sandy Spring Vet Hospital! 🐾
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02/11/2022
🚨 Calling all dogs in need of training! 🚨
Starting in just a few days, we have a class that is gonna teach your dog how to walk nicely on a leash, do a rocket recall, and more using positive reinforcement! Text Al or message us for more information.
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01/27/2022
We hope everyone has been staying warm inside the past few days! To prepare for the potential snowstorm that may hit our area on Friday, here’s a reminder on how to keep our furry friends protected during the winter time. Make sure to swipe through all slides! ❄️
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01/17/2022
Come join Al and bring your adorable puppies to Smart Start Puppy Class, held at Olney-Sandy Spring Veterinary Hospital! This class not only will teach your pup how to behave, but they will also love going to vet 😉 🐾
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01/10/2022
Do you use a certified dog safety restraints when you take your dog in the car? Swipe through to find out what products are certified, and why it matters! 🐾
Center for Pet Safety (https://www.centerforpetsafety.org/) has tested and certified only SIX brands of dog car safety restraints as being safe in a crash. Check out their website for videos of the tests, size restrictions, plus a LOT more helpful information.
These products can be found at the links below:
Sleepypod: https://sleepypod.com
ZuGoPet: http://www.zugopet.com/
Gunner Kennel: http://www.gunnerkennels.com/
Lucky Duck Kennel: https://www.luckyduck.com/lucky-kennel-intermediate/
Diggs: https://www.diggs.pet/
Away Travel: https://www.awaytravel.com
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01/07/2022
❄️ Now that it’s cold out—it’s glove and mitten season—treating your dogs outside may have gotten harder.
One easy tip for treat delivery is to use squeeze bottles (travel size shampoo bottles) and fill them with wet food!
You can use canned dog food, pumpkin puree and/or peanut butter* and play around with the consistency to make sure it’s squeezable and not too liquidy.
Practice with your dog before taking it outside, as some dogs can be startled by it squirting out at first but they will quickly learn that squeeze bottle=yummy food 😋
*Make sure when using peanut butter there is no xylitol in it. And use 100% pure pumpkin!
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01/03/2022
We see it happen all the time—in puppy class your dog comes running when he hears the recall cue after weeks of practice in class.
But then after class you get excited that your dog finally knows how to come, you move too fast and let your dog run free.
That good recall they practiced in class completely disappears as you chase after them as they run through the forest after a deer—completely ignoring you.
In order to avoid this common scenario, make sure to follow these tips in the infographic!
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12/31/2021
Happy New Year from your friends at Come When Called!
We hope you and your furry friends have a great start to 2022 🎊🎉
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12/14/2021
🌟 As the holiday’s approach, you may be extra busy getting ready, preparing for upcoming trips, visiting family, and decorating the house. While your schedule may be hectic, try your best to maintain your dog’s daily routine—providing physical exercise, meals, and mental games (training) at the same time you normally do. 🕰
This will reduce the stress of your pup during such a busy time of year.
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12/11/2021
Does your dog like to jump up on the table and steal food?
Now is the time to work on this unwanted behavior, before the holiday tables are too tempting for our furry friends 😋
Place a covered container with smelly food on the counter, then work on getting your dog to pay attention to YOU not the food on the table by playing games with your dog or basic training like Sits and Downs.
✨Make sure to use higher-value treats to reward your dog when they are paying attention to you, rather than trying to steal the yummy smelling food on the table.
Let us know in the comments if you are going to try this!
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12/08/2021
Is this a familiar scene? Do your guests like to sneak some human food to your dog without you knowing? 🐾
During the holidays when you may have a lot of people over, it’s a good idea to ask all guests, especially kids, not to slip your dog any food.
Nothing. No sharing. ❌
Keep your dog’s health in mind and make sure they don’t accidentally get something that could upset their stomach or is poisonous!
We learned this lesson after our puppy vomited chunks of ham in the car on the way home from a family Christmas dinner!
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12/06/2021
Not sure what to get your dog for the holidays?
You can go high end with the bouncy pet ball or low end with a fluffy new squeaky or a piece of real rabbit fur on a string. You’ll get no complaints from your dog, plus the new thingy will keep her busy….for a time.
But the best gift will cost you nothing at all and create canine happiness—your attention.
Take time during all the holiday chaos to pet your dog and tell him what a good job he is doing. This small gesture will keep him connected to you while lowering your stress level at the same time.
Stay tuned for more holiday tips!
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12/01/2021
I see it in class all the time:
Beagle-mix Romeo cooperates with his person like a pro usually, but suddenly stops focusing and working. “But he loves these treats,” his person says, “and now he won’t take them.” That’s when I get out my stash of human-grade cheeseballs and Romeo pops back into action.
Cheeseballs are awful food, if you can even call them “food”. The cheese is fake and nutritional value is minus zero, but many dogs find them rewarding.
And that’s the key to a great reward—the dog must want to turn cartwheels for the rewards we offer.
There is not a steadfast reward that works for every dog all the time. Sometimes a treat will work great one minute and stop being enticing the next. This is why knowing what dogs find rewarding is important, so you can have multiple options when one reward stops working at any given time!
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11/25/2021
Happy Thanksgiving! We hope you have a restful holiday. Thank you for your support! 🦃 🍂
11/18/2021
Imagine: 🐶 🌟
You cue your dog to sit, and they sit.
The dog then stands up immediately and you give them a treat.
You just rewarded them for standing from a sit, instead of for the original sit!
The dog has now learned to stand right after sitting.
Instead, practice treating as quickly and precisely as possible, making sure to only reward your dog when they are practicing the exact behavior you are trying to teach them.
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11/17/2021
It’s not misbehavior, just behavior!
11/12/2021
We LOVE this infographic by Sarah Owings and Lili Chin. As we go into the weekend, it’s important to think about ways to refill our dog’s cup and help our dog recover from the long week!
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11/10/2021
Is your dog a big puller?
One of the easiest ways to help this, while you work on training your dog, is get a harness with a front-clip attachment!
Many of our clients have told us that it drastically cuts down on pulling, making walking much more enjoyable. Also, attaching the leash to a harness in general prevents any damage from happening to your dog’s trachea and spine. Let us know if you try it!
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11/08/2021
Let’s talk about decompression walks, also called sniffy walks. 🐾
Decompression walks are when you walk your dog in nature, giving them the freedom to smell and explore the area, usually on a long leash.
While the distance you walk might not be that far, your dog is using mental energy, cataloguing all those new smells--this makes them just as tired and enriched as when you take them running or for very long walks through the city.
Decompression walks can have positive effects on their mental health, which leads to positive changes in their behavior! It also can positively effect your mental health as well 🌞
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11/05/2021
Anyone else’s dog steal their chair the moment they get up? 😂 We get the message.
10/29/2021
As we approach the 👻 spooky night ✨, here is a friendly (and funny) reminder to make sure your dog always has an ID tag and a microchip in case they get spooked and run off.
Comic credit: Bizarro Studios
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10/27/2021
Does your dog like to climb? 🐾
Climbing can be very beneficial—it can help a shy dog become more confident! You can teach your dog to put their paws on different objects by starting with low to the ground, sturdy bins then progressing to more challenging taller obstacles! Make it a fun game and watch your dog’s confidence grow 🐶
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10/22/2021
📣Calling all puppies! 📣
Come learn how to sit on cue, listen to your parents, and be exposed to the big wide world!
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10/20/2021
Wisdom Wednesday coming in hot from American poet Ambrose Bierce!
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10/14/2021
The moment we’ve all been waiting for: it’s time to learn how to communicate with your puppy with our SMART START Puppy Class!
🎉 🐾
Join us Saturdays at 11 AM to train your dog using positive science-backed techniques. Reach out to our trainer, Al, for more information and to sign up!
10/13/2021
Halloween is approaching! Is your dog ready for the incoming children ringing the doorbell in scary costumes? Swipe through to find out how to prepare your dog for the spooky night 👻
10/07/2021
Keep your dog wagging with this super simple and recycled dog enrichment activity!
Have a big empty delivery box around? Fill it with newspapers, kibble, smaller boxes, and treats to keep your pup busy and everyone happy.
Make sure to let us know if you try this, and follow along with us on both facebook and instagram (ComeWhenCalledMD) for more ways to keep your dog engaged and happy 😁
10/04/2021
Do you ever catch yourself wishing your dog could act a different way? Almost like an ideal, robot, version of themselves? 🤖 🐶 Check out the original infographic below!
Make sure to follow us for more ways on how to work on “MUTT” (Management, Understanding, Training, Time.)
And join us on our new instagram: ComewhencalledMD https://www.instagram.com/comewhencalledmd/
11/16/2020
We’re definitely smiling through our masks. Congrats smart start grads!
11/15/2020
Face: licked
Clothing: covered in fur
Facebook hiatus: over
10/31/2020
Happy Halloween, everyone! Remember, even a little bit of chocolate is harmful to your dog.
10/30/2020
Has your pup already mastered the skills from Smart Start and Puppy Plus? Well, Beyond Puppy Plus might just be for you! What does this class involve? Let's take a look at the ...
In this class we continue to solidify the basic behaviors of sit, down, sit/down stays (adding distance to duration and distractions), stand, recall with stronger distractions, accepting grooming with a brush and handling of ears and front feet, focus on owner, staying calmly with a stranger while the owner goes out of sight, walking on a loose leash with automatic sit, and sitting while owner greets another person with a dog.
Our next Beyond Puppy Plus Class will run Wednesdays starting January 27 from 5-6:15p.
10/24/2020
If you have an older puppy, our Puppy Plus class might be for you. Let's take a look at today's
This class builds on the behaviors learned in Smart Start puppy class. Puppies learn fast sits and downs, focus on owner, elementary school versions of sit and down stays (duration and mild distractions), wait before a recall, recall with mild distractions, sitting while puppy’s person greets someone, walking on a loose leash past a person with a dog, accepting handling while sitting and greeting a friendly dog.
We have 2 upcoming Puppy Plus Classes. In Olney, our class runs Wednesdays starting October 28th from 11:30-12:30. We also have a class in Bethesda running Wednesdays from 5:30-6:30 starting November 4th.
10/23/2020
We had Freya and Tilly come to our Ask the Trainer event last weekend. Did you miss us? Don't worry, we'll be back at Loyal Companion in December!
10/21/2020
Struggling with which puppy class to take? Today's focuses on our Smart Start Class. With the most basic training, this is a great class for younger puppies, 9 to 16 weeks old.
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Using reward-based training methods, we introduce the puppy to being handled, explore novel objects, focus on his person, and have fun learning. The class covers kindergarten versions of basic behaviors, such as sit, down, hand targeting, impulse control, recall, and walking on a loose leash. The puppy’s owner learns how to communicate with the puppy, how to manage normal puppy behaviors, such as nipping, jumping, and grabbing-and-running, and also how to build a trusting relationship with your young dog. Couples and families are encouraged to come to class together.
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Our next Smart Start class runs Wednesdays from 4-5p on 11/11-12/23. All these classes cost just $225!
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Did your pup take this class? Comment below with your pictures from the class (everyone loves dog pictures).
10/19/2020
Congrats to our newest Agility grads!
Want to see your pup crush these obstacle courses? Our next agility class starts November 7th!
10/14/2020
Socialization is an important part of keeping your dog happy. Schedule puppy playdates with other dog families or come to our puppy playgroups! Our playgroups run every Friday from 4:30-5p.
10/11/2020
Butters is having a great time at our Smart Start class. It's the perfect course for puppies to learn basic skills and commands. Basically: How to Be a Good Boy (or Girl) 101. (We already know your pups will get an A+)
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This isn't a track and field practice. It's our Puppy Play and Learn class! Look at this dog own these hurdles!
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