Sit Stay Succeed Dog Training

12/24/2024

We will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to be with family so we want to take this opportunity to wish you all a very merry Christmas! As you get ready to celebrate, we would love to see photos of your furkids in their holiday best! Or if they aren't a fan of being dressed up, a photo next to the tree or with their gifts! For all of our Jewish friends, we wish you a happy Hanukkah (the first night of which is on Christmas). We would love to see photos of your dog, no matter how you celebrate this season.

12/22/2024

Follow us on Instagram! We are going to try to get back into the swing of things and post more to Instagram and would love for you to follow along with us! Just search for or use your phone to scan the attached QR code. While on Instagram, give our other business a follow, too!

12/22/2024

A couple days ago we shared one of our favorite bully stick brands. Today we would like to share two of our favorite interactive toys and a third, diy activity! These are all perfect for dogs who like to sniff!

The first is the Snoop. It is made out of rubber and is hollow. You can toss treats into the middle of it and as your dog rolls it around (or picks it up and throws it like Mya eventually does) the treats will sporadically fall out. You can also smear some dog-friendly peanut butter on the inside, similar to what you might do with a kong.

The second is a snuffle ball. Mya seems to prefer the ball to a mat and will constantly ask for me to refill the treats so she can sniff them all out again. The way it works is you simply hide a treat inbetween each fold. Your dog then uses their sense of smell to find each yummy morsal, rolling the ball around as they investigate. Use bigger treats and hide them closer to the edges to make it easier. Use small treats and hide them at the base of each piece of fabric to make it harder. These balls are washable on the gentle cycle, too, so they are easy to keep clean!

You can see both the Snoop and the snuffle ball in action on the video (video in comments as Facebook won't allow both video and photo uploads in a single post on a business page). Mya starts with the Snoop then gets distracted by the snuffle ball. As a bonus, you may see a part of a cardboard box and some random strips of packing paper. This is for another sniffy game! Get a size appropriate box that your dog can reach into and some packing paper. You can also use newspaper, crumpled pages of a magazine, toilet paper rolls, empty water bottles, or even those plastic balls you see in ball pits. Take a handful of treats and toss them into the box and then let your dog sniff them out. To make it harder, stick the treats into the folds of the paper!

What are some of your dog's favorite interactive toys?

12/21/2024

For those unaware, Mya was diagnosed with osteosarcoma a little more than 3 months ago. The initial diagnosis predicted that we would only have 2-4 weeks with her. A follow-up with a specialist gave us 4 months. This was an especially difficult diagnosis as we just lost our male shepherd, Kaiser, to a different cancer about 7 months ago.

We did not expect Mya to do as well as she has been (all things considered) as this is an aggressive and very painful cancer. Aside from having a lack of appetite she is hanging in there and still trying to play with her favorite toys. She also enjoys short walks and outings and is otherwise acting normal. You may even see her on one of our socialization walks, if she is up for it! She is currently on a combination of medications for pain management to help keep her comfortable.

Her birthday was this month, so we wanted to do something special for her. Enter: an 11th birthday photo shoot! Mya has always been a great sport for all my crazy ideas. She gets tons of treats during our photo endeavors and is generally pretty darn patient with me. We hope you enjoy these photos and please send Mya all the good juju you can! Click each photo to view full size.

12/20/2024

We wanted to share a company with you who has some of the best bully sticks we have tried. Bully Bunches offers all different sizes of Bully sticks but our favorite size is the 12" monster.

Having german shepherds we are no stranger to strong chewers and we can usually get several uses out of one of these particular chews. We do take them up when they are about 1/4 to 1/3 of the way gone so that they last several sessions. This is also a good idea when introducing a new chew to your dog to ensure they don't have any digestive upset. This brand is also one of the lower odor options that we have tried (no bully stick is odor free).

Bully Bunches also offers beef cheek rolls, a safer and healthier alternative to rawhide (we never recommend rawhide), as well as collagen chews, beef tendon, and other options our dogs love. They also have yak cheese chews but we always caution pup parents to weigh the pros and cons of offering a hard chew.

**We are not affiliated with this company in any way** but we strongly encourage all pet parents to look into these types of chews. Of course, you can research other brands! But the monster sized sticks from this company have proven to be the best for heavy chewers, in our experience.

What are some chews that your dog enjoys?

12/18/2024

Love a good "The Far Side" cartoon! What are you getting your pup for Christmas?

12/17/2024

Here are four very common training mistakes:

1 - Waiting for a puppy to "grow out" of a behavior. Unfortunately this isn't a phenomenon that exists. A dog will never grow out of a behavior that has been reinforced over and over again. Barking at the truck driving by while looking through the window. Demand barking. Jumping on you and/or visitors. Pulling on the leash. NONE of these behaviors will magically get better on their own. The longer you wait, the stronger the reinforcement history. This means changing that behavior once the dog is an adult will be incredibly challenging. Why would they stop the behavior when it always worked for them in the past? How do we resolve this? Start training the moment your puppy comes home. Lay a solid foundation and set your puppy up for success.

2 - Not being consistent in your training. We cannot speak dog and dogs cannot speak human. Therefore we must communicate with them, clearly, in a way that they understand. We do this by marking behaviors the moment they occur and follow that up with something the dog finds reinforcing. We must also ensure that everyone in the household is on the same page. If behaviors are allowed some of the time while other times they are unwanted the dog is going to grow confused about our expectations. For example, if a child allows the dog to jump and climb all over them but you don't want your dog to jump on guests, your dog won't be able to discern the difference between the two scenarios. To him, jumping gets him attention at least some of the time so of course he will jump over and over again in hopes it will continue to work.

3 - Not rewarding the behavior you want to see. If you don't reward a behavior, why would your dog offer it again in the future? Instead they will decide on their own how to act, and that may not coincide with your expectations. Dogs will offer behavior that is reinforced. If you want your dog to be more calm in the house around guests, reward them when they are actually being calm. If you want your dog to stop surfing the counters, reward them when they have all four feet on the floor.

4 - Repeating cues. "Fluffy sit. Sit. Sit. I said sit." When exactly is your dog supposed to sit? The first time you say it or the 7th time? This goes back to being consistent. You only want to say a cue one time, unless you are absolutely certain your dog didn't hear you. Set up your dog for success by starting with few distractions and work your way up to more difficult asks. If your dog can't sit inside the house then they certainly won't be able to sit at a park. You also want to ensure that your dog actually understands the cue you are asking them to do in that particular circumstance.

What are some additional training mistakes you may have experienced or know of?

12/16/2024

More puppy love!! Milli is learning all the things! We spent our last session talking about jumping, chewing/mouthing, crate training, and how reinforcement history will drive future behavior (whether it's intentional, or not!).

Puppy sessions are just as much about education as they are about actual training. Young pups, like Milli, require a LOT of rest, so we give them breaks during our time together. However it is important to practice management while visitors are over to prevent behaviors that we do not want to see. But, don't just ignore your puppy! You absolutely must reward the times your puppy is being good, even if the behavior doesn't look like much. Every opportunity to teach or reinforce a skill will bring you one step closer to a well-mannered adult.

12/14/2024

We had a wonderful socialization walk this morning. While we were missing one regular team the conversation was great and once we got moving the weather wasn't bad at all. After the walk I treated everyone to cupcakes from One Love Bakery both as thanks for the continued support and to celebrate Mya's 11th birthday (browse the photos to see what they looked like! They were absolutely beautiful!). The humans had lemon cupcakes with a lemon curd filling and lemon cream cheese frosting and the pups had peanut butter, carrot, and pumpkin! Everything was delicious and the pups ate everything before I could snap some "in action" photos. Join us in January for our first walk of 2025!

12/13/2024

A Friday funny for you (if you are familiar with this tiktocker, Khaby Lame, who creates laughs by gesturing at the most obvious things to resolve problems/show life hacks). But in all seriousness, confining your dog to keep them, as well as your home and everything in it, safe is something we strongly recommend. If you aren't a fan of crating, we suggest the use of an x-pen (or even an x-pen attached to a crate). You can also utilize a dog-proofed room. ***This is just temporary***as once your dog shows he can be trusted alone he can then be left out of the crate all day.

So why is this skill important (and, crate training is absolutely a skill)?

- It helps your puppy with housebreaking/potty training - most puppies will not soil the same area they sleep or eat in.

- It keeps them confined and away from inappropriate chew items while teething, and then, as your puppy matures, to prevent boredom chewing.

- It teaches your dog to be calm and settled (as much as they can be) during vet stays and boarding.

- It is the safest way to travel with your dog (the second safest is with a crash tested seatbelt - Currently SleepyPod is the only crash tested option).

- It reduces destruction to the home, whether out of boredom or anxiety (if true separation anxiety, crates are actually contraindicated and an entirely different protocol is required)

Another great thing about crate training is that your dog may start to seek out it's comfort and may go in to relax on their own accord. All my dogs have had crates available to them, doors propped open, and all have sought them out for naps on a consistent basis throughout their lives.

An easy hack is to offer two crates, one in your bedroom or a quiet room away from the hustle and bustle of the kitchen/living room/front door where they can go to relax and "get away" from all the activity. Then, have a second crate where you are most often located (usually an office or the living room) so they have the option to hang out with you. In either case, you are offering your dog the agency to choose where they are most comfortable. This, of course, applies to dogs who are already housebroken and can be trusted not to chew on inappropriate items when out of your sight.

Any questions about crate training? Share them in the comments below! We would also love to see photos of your dog in their favorite crate, x-pen, or dog-room.

12/12/2024

Kids and dogs can be quite a hot topic. While many dogs seem to have endless patience, some can find interactions with children to be quite stressful. However, because some seem to be "ok" with being hugged, sat upon, or poked owners can oftentimes misread this apparent patience as acceptance.

It is critical that we advocate for our dogs, just as we would our children. Dogs cannot use words to tell us when they are uncomfortable. Instead they utilize body language, which, once you know what to look for, can actually be quite apparent. Turning the head away, whale eye (when you can see the whites of the eye), tongue flicks/lip licks, and freezing are some common signs. Some dogs may even "kiss" your child, which appears as a big lick, maybe even several licks. This actually means "please go away", I'm uncomfortable. Some people refer to this behavior as "kiss to dismiss". Check out dog body language and calming signals on YouTube to better acquaint yourself with these signals, and more.

When we dismiss (or don't correctly read) our dog's body language we can create a situation where our dog no longer feels like they are being "heard". This is where bites occur. The dog is either so shut down or uncomfortable that they feel an air snap or actual bite is the only way to get the point across. And, children are unfortunately head-height so these bites can commonly occur to the face (though arms are also common, too).

Always monitor interactions between your child and dog and never let them be alone in a room together. Only when your child is old enough to understand the do's and dont's of interacting with dogs, as well showing an understanding of basic dog body language, can you give them a little more freedom together. This may seem strict, but it only takes a moment for things to go from tolerating an encounter to a bite.

Take a peek at the two attached graphics for some other tips on how children should, and shouldn't, interact with dogs.

Pop your questions in the comments below!

12/07/2024

IYKYK!! German Shepherds (and many other breeds) can remain in their velociraptor stage (also known as the landshark phase) for 2 years (give or take). It starts with teething and progresses through adolescence. These months seem like they will never end.

The "puppy blues" are a real phenomenon as this stage of life can be quite overwhelming. You are not alone! Mouthing is just one way in which your dog explores the world. Ensure that you are not only providing appropriate outlets for this behavior but also teach your dog how to relax on his own.

Lower drive puppies with less energy will still be mouthy when young but oftentimes seem to settle into maturity without too much of a headache. Higher drive and higher energy dogs however require a concerted effort to guide their behavior in a way that won't drive you bonkers.

ALL dogs require enrichment - physical and mental stimulation are essential to a happy, well-balanced dog. Without proper rest, exercise, and mental enrichment your puppy may never seem to settle and put those teeth away. If he is behaving in ways that frustrate you, first ask yourself if their needs have been met.

Manage access to behaviors you don't want to see and support your dog's learning with patience and grace. This is a tough time in their lives and due to the changes occurring in their brain your dog may have difficulty processing your cues. They are also becoming more independent and will test boundaries that you have previously set. Take a deep breath and just stick with your training! It will get better!

12/06/2024

I frequently hear complaints of dogs being "stubborn". As humans, we read our dog's "misbehavior" or lack of a response as an intentional act of being unreasonable and an unwillingness to change or act in the manner in which we are asking. But it's important to understand that dogs don't have the capacity to think this way. As we have mentioned many times in past posts, dogs will behave in ways that work best for them, and these ways are those in which the dog has been reinforced (be it intentionally or unintentionally). These ways therefore have a reinforcement history built up to support any given behavior in any given situation.

So what does this mean?

If your dog doesn't come when you call him, is it because he is being willfully stubborn and intentionally disregarding your cue? No! Your dog may not actually know the cue (did you miss a step in the training process or were you ever unclear about the behavior you were trying to teach? Was your reinforcement not offered at the correct time?), or he may not understand it in the particular circumstances he is in (because you haven't actually trained for that circumstance, or trained ENOUGH for that circumstance). Maybe your level of payment for the behavior doesn't match what you are asking him to do (which reduces motivation). Or maybe he doesn't feel well or is uncomfortable with something in the environment (which could even be you, if you are now shouting at him to come).

Your dog's response in this scenario may be to continue sniffing that really good smell, playing with the neighbor's dog, or simply laying in the grass in a sunny spot. These behaviors are rewarding for your dog in themselves. Your dog enjoys them. So you have to elevate your training so that what you are asking your dog to do is even BETTER than those things your dog already likes. And you have to ensure that when you are training, you are clearly communicating what you want your dog to do and how you will reward him for that behavior. Build up a positive reinforcement history for recall, train in increasingly difficult scenarios, and always ask yourself "why?" if your dog doesn't respond the way you expected him to.

Contact us and let's set up a session to figure out why your own dog is being "stubborn"!

www.sitstaysucceed.com

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12/02/2024

Happy December! We are posting a bit early in hopes that you will be able to join us for our December Socialization Walk! As thanks for all your support this year we are WAIVING the walk fee for everyone. So, this is a great opportunity to come check us out and ask any questions you may have. You do still need to register in advance and provide proof of current rabies + core vaccinations and we ask that you contact us via email ([email protected]) with photos of the supporting documents (a clear cell phone shot of the paperwork would suffice).

Please note that this is not a play group but rather an opportunity for your dog to learn how to function calmly around other dogs without direct interaction. Best results are seen with consistent exposure and training, but you will get a good idea of how easy it can be by joining us! If you feel we are a good fit then you can attend future walks at any time (the fee is only $15/dog+handler). This walk is perfect for dogs who are overly social and excitable when seeing other dogs OR for dogs who need to build a little bit of confidence around other dogs. This is not an appropriate event for dogs who are aggressive as it would be too overwhelming for them. Please indicate in your email which category your dog fits into.

The walk this month will be Saturday, December 14th at 8am. We will meet at Occoneechee State Park (the Park's entrance fee still applies and is payable directly to the Park at the front guardhouse). We will give you the exact location, additional information, and answer any other questions you may have upon your RSVP. Please contact us by Tuesday, December 10th so that we can get a head count.

Please consider sharing this post with your friends and like/follow our page for future updates and training tips and tricks!

12/01/2024

Let's talk about Veterinary Behaviorists! These vets are specially trained to "address the relationships between an animal's health, environment, experiences and its behavior" (davb.org). They are veterinarians who have completed additional training and are *board certified* in animal behavior, something that regular vets have unfortunately little training in. This isn't to say that some regular vets don't make a point to learn as much as possible as their career progresses. However most of them don't have this speciality training and are best suited to address physical, rather than emotional, ailments. Board certified veterinary behaviorists do NOT use aversive training methods and stay up to date on effective, science-based methods that are positive and mentionally supportive for your dog.

There are only about 70 veterinary behaviorists in the United States, so while they are few and far between many will do virtual consults with you and/or your regular vet. They specialize in handling aggression cases (both dog-human and dog-dog), severe anxiety, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, and other behavioral cases. While there are dog trainers who may specialize in such cases, the difference here is that veterinary behaviorists can look at the "whole picture" and prescribe and oversee the use of pharmaceuticals in order to support your dog's mental and physical health. Only veterinarians who are board certified may call themselves a behaviorist.

It is unfortunate that the dog training industry is not regulated so any dog trainer can call themselves a behaviorist without repercussion. It is up to the owner to do their due diligence to ensure that the trainer they are considering remains up to date on the best science-based methods for addressing behavioral concerns. This is also an issue with regular vets as some may still offer advice that is rooted in dominance theory, which is outdated and has been debunked. In many cases regular trainers and vets will work in concert with a veterinary behaviorist to provide a comprehensive treatment plan.

So, why is the use of drugs important? If your dog is in physical pain or under emotional distress absolutely no amount of training will be effective. The root cause of the behavior must be addressed first. Then, once your dog can think clearly as the pain and/or anxiety has been addressed, you can proceed with a training regimen.

Veterinary Behaviorists can be an essential part of your dog's treatment team, making or breaking the effectiveness of your particular dog's training.

https://www.dacvb.org/search/custom.asp?id=4709

certifying board for veterinarians who are specialty trained to advance the behavioral health of animals through clinical practice, research, and science-based behavior education

11/29/2024

A cute story for your Friday. My 6 year old nephew asked me where Mya was when I arrived at my brother's house for Thanksgiving yesterday. The last time I visited I had her with me, so that was probably what sparked the inquiry. I told my nephew that I had to leave her home. He asked why so I replied that she had just had surgery and needed to rest. He, of course, asked why again. I said that she had a bad tooth that needed to be pulled. He thought for a moment then asked me how much she got. I wasn't sure what he meant so I asked him to clarify. He said, "Aunty Jen, how much did the tooth fairy leave Mya?" So for anyone who needs to know, the tooth fairy also visits dogs. ❤️

I hope all of our wonderful followers had a lovely Thanksgiving!

11/27/2024

A few foods to share with, and what to keep away from, your dog for Thanksgiving...

Most any raw veggies are great! Cooked are also just as good, but only as long as they aren't seasoned. Turkey breast, without the skin, can be a great treat, as well as plain sweet potato or canned PLAIN pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling). Cranberry sauce has too much sugar, turkey skin has too much fat, and anything with onions can be toxic. When in doubt, it's best to err on the safe side and not feed questionable ingredients/foods.

11/26/2024

Let's see your pup's best head tilt photos!

A new study suggests that head tilting is a result of concentration and recall in gifted dogs (dogs familiar with identifying numerous names of toys). While head tilting has also been suggested to mean that they are listening for specific words or tones, or even to better read the expressions on your face, very little research has been done on this particular behavior.

Why do you think your dog tilts its head?

https://www.science.org/content/article/why-do-dogs-tilt-their-heads-new-study-offers-clues?utm_campaign=news_weekly_2021-10-29&et_rid=486754869&et_cid=3977615