Hidden Valley k-9 Hobby, Training Center

15/09/2022

Did you know that we have a new class coming up!? It is a 4-week training class that covers the basics: Sit, Down, Heel, Come and Stay. Classes by appointment only, Give us a call at 931-310-6188 to reserve your spot!

18/03/2022

A few things that the everyday dog owner should know when getting a puppy or dog.

The training starts the second you bring the dog home

All puppies and dogs need to be crate trained. The crate should be a place to rest the body and mind. Should never be used as a punishment. Feed some of the puppies meal in the crate and use some of the food for training.

Too much freedom inside the home before the puppy can handle it is one of the biggest and most common mistakes people make. Do not let a puppy or untrained dog roam your home unsupervised. Keep the puppy in immediate view, use a long leash, or crate if you can’t have your eyes on the dog. Freedom is given in small doses as the puppy can handle it without getting in trouble. The goal is to create the behavior you want, not constantly correcting the puppy for what you don’t want. With that being said, puppies must be corrected for unwanted behaviors. Peeing and pooping in the house or crate can’t be corrected. That’s your fault. A puppy is like an infant. They can’t control peeing and pooping like an older dog. Take your puppy out often and get on a consistent schedule. No water or food after 6 or 7pm.

Use food to train. The basics should be taught and practiced daily. First teach the puppy to follow the food. Meaning nose goes to your hand and you allow the dog to push trying to get the food as you slowly move the hand away from puppy allowing the puppy to follow nose pressed to hand. Start using a reward marker like Yes or a clicker. Mark then open hand to give the food. Meaning the verbal must come first, then the reward.

You MUST have a language dedicated to your dog that your dog can learn by you being consistent and applying meaning to the words you use. Your dog MUST know what yes means, but also MUST know what NO means. If nothing comes after those words, yes equals reward for good, no equals correction for bad, your dog will never give meaning to either. Your dog’s name is not a command, or correction. NO should not be your dog’s middle name.

The way you live with your dog inside the home creates the dog, good or bad. If you are with your dog you are training. Are you training for good or are you training for bad. If you have a dog you are a dog trainer. That simple.

Your dog is a dog, not a human child. Constant unearned affection is a killer and creates an unhealthy addiction for both dog and owner. Your dog will love you unconditionally but will never respect you unless you give it reason to.

Your dog does not need dog friends. Your dog doesn’t need to play with other dogs, they need to play with you. Learn to play like a dog understands it. It’s the most powerful motivator and relationship building activity available to you. Mastering food to teach behaviors and mastering play to enhance behaviors and relationship is vital.

The foundation of the basics are a must. A few things that your dog MUST be taught. No exceptions:

First, the most basic of basics, your dog must learn how to be still in any situation. If your dog can’t be still around any distraction, you will never have control.

Recall
Sit
Down
Walk nicely on leash
Out, meaning release anything in your mouth

The place command is fine but actually a newer thing in training and usually over used as doggy jail, to suppress and control the dog due to a lack of obedience. People focus on place but can’t teach their dog to Out. It’s a problem

Learn how positive reinforcement works, and learn to use it properly, not like the big box stores use it. Learn how to utilize negative reinforcement. Paired with positive reinforcement, it’s an incredibly powerful way to create a well trained dog. Very few actually understand punishment so we won’t get into that

This is just the Reader’s Digest version. A small glimpse of what is needed to get started. Getting a puppy is a ton of work. You’re raising a dog not a puppy. What you think is cute at 8 weeks won’t be at 1 year.

Enjoy the process, but training is not optional. If you can’t commit to training and raising a dog properly don’t get a dog. Get a cat.

A dog is a living, breathing, emotional(in their own way) being. Treat them with respect and compassion. Everyday they wake up thinking it’s going to be the best day of their life. Don’t let them down. They think you’re an amazing human. Try to be what they think you are. They’re not here long. Enjoy them to the fullest while you can because it goes fast and you’ll regret not doing so when you had the chance. HAPPY TRAINING

17/02/2022

Ok my people please go to 933TheDawg.com/vote/
And click on Heinie picture..
She be a great mascot for 93.3

LATEST FROM UC SPORTS NATION Beaty Adjusting To The Speed Of High School Basketball by Russell Ellis 2021-08-04 Incoming York

06/02/2022

Could you please take a minute to vote for Heinie..
She made it to round 2..
933TheDawg.com/vote/
Truly appreciate your vote....

LATEST FROM UC SPORTS NATION Beaty Adjusting To The Speed Of High School Basketball by Russell Ellis 2021-08-04 Incoming York

17/01/2022

On in 1963, in front of a crowd of nearly 250,000 people spread across the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his now-famous “I Have a Dream” speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

King almost didn’t deliver what is now the most famous part of the speech?
He had debuted the phrase, “I have a dream,” in his speeches at least nine months before the March on Washington and used it several times since then. His advisers discouraged him from using the same theme again. But as he spoke that day, Mahalia Jackson prompted him to “Tell them about the dream, Martin.” Abandoning his prepared text, King improvised the rest of his speech. https://www.history.com/news/i-have-a-dream-speech-mlk-facts

Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech ranks among the most famous in history, but there are a few lesser-known facts about the 1963 moment.

08/01/2022

HAPPY NEW YEAR

25/12/2021

Merry Christmas from our family to yours ❤️🎄
Sending my warmest thoughts and Christmas spirit on your way✨

14/12/2021

Happy holidays

31/10/2021

Are you taking your dog trick or treating with you tonight? If so, let's see those costumes!

📸 Photo by Karsten Winegeart