SUNSTAR All-Breed Dog Training

06/19/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/Dm1Tp3xBC93FoRez/

06/07/2024

This came up as a memory a year ago and I know I have posted this before, but it bears repeating. We walk almost daily and deal with this SO often it is exhausting. Our entire city of Des Moines is leash-law, as are most other nearby areas, but even in areas that are not actual "leash-law" (like Normandy Park) there is still a CONTROL law where dogs are NOT allowed to run up to others without permission. Please let's all be polite, respectful, and safe to all humans and dogs, Thanks! 🐾😊🐾

05/25/2024

This! And let's please also keep a current license/ID tag on our pets, as that is the first line of defense if they get out loose. Accidents can happen to any of us, so having both a tag and microchip is a great idea- our pets thank us!

Did you know that less than 10% of the pets that are unchipped will return home each year?

A microchip is a secure, reliable, permanent identification for your pet and the process is simple and affordable. Microchipping your pet can help ensure that if your pet goes missing, they can be identified and find their way back to you.

If your pet is chipped, make sure their information is up to date. To help keep pets close to their loved ones, share this post and remind your friends to !

05/23/2024

SUCH a great graduating class last night! Everyone did a fabulous job on their individual Heeling- slow and fast, turns and Sit Stay- Recall and Sit Stay, Figure "8" Heeling, plus group Sit Stay, Stand Stay, and Down Stay. Congratulations to all the sweet doggos and their families- Dio, Emma, Meadow, Honor, Oreo, Harley, and Suzie! And I included a cute pic of my demo dog sweet Daisy Mae too~ 😊🐾🐾❤

05/14/2024

Well, BIG NEWS- after much thought and consideration, I just adopted a 6-month female Doberman puppy from Dog Gone Seattle Rescue group!
I got her on Sunday and everything is going great, she and the Littles and I are all adjusting just fine.
This puppy was found two months ago in CA as an emaciated stray (the pics would break your heart...) She received vet care and then was transported up here, and has been in a wonderful foster home until I got her a few days ago.
I have been working on this for a while, but didn't want to put the word out until it was a done deal and I had her here with us!
She looks to be a purebred Dobe "au natural" with long ears and tail! I have named her Holly~ Daisy and Violet are getting to know their new (big but baby) sister, and we are all getting used to each other, it is going well.
We will be taking it slowly of course, but we will also be out-and-about a bit to get her used to her new life. We are all very happy~🐾🥰🐾

05/08/2024

This is a good, informative article- my dog trainer friends and I talk about how many dog owners don't seem to know or understand this, and we are happy to help educate them because it is very important! Have a great day with your doggo everyone- https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/understanding-scale-dog-selectivity/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_org&utm_campaign=20220504_posting&fbclid=IwAR2rIl-09U8GE64Awcne5EjaYtAb9fHmZqlX7zOQaD32qmAInHS1TkVL_UU

There is a scale of dog selectivity and sociability where some dogs don't enjoy meeting or playing with strange dogs as much as others.

04/11/2024

We had SUCH a great graduation class last night, everyone did wonderfully and I am so proud of them all! They did individual Heeling with Sit Stays, slow and fast, turns, about turn, along with Figure "8" Heeling, and Group Sit Stay, Stand Stay, and Down Stay- Great Job to Jasmine, Little, Cooper, and Fenrir, and their families! 😊🐾🐾

03/23/2024

Hahaha, this is SO me! 😄 And also many of my dear "dog friends" too!

Guilty as charged... 🫣

03/20/2024

Great tips for our furry family members!

Happy first day of Spring!

Keep these tips in mind this season to have a happy and safe time with your pets.

03/19/2024

Interesting article about working dogs in our federal government, dogs are so cool!

By Andrew Van Dam
The Washington Post
Washington is going to the dogs — for real this time.

As of 2022, the federal government employed 5,159 German shepherds, Belgian Malinois, beagles, Jack Russell terriers and other forms of everyone’s favorite furry friend. Another 421 worked as canine contractors.

The job descriptions for these four-legged feds range from the sublime — 31 help “park rangers traverse Denali National Park in winter” — to the subprime: Others “detect waterfowl feces” infected with bird flu.

We found the work of these politically connected canines described in magical detail in a report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which apparently is taking its role as government watchdog literally. The report — which addresses the working conditions of working dogs — somehow escaped our notice until we were scooped by our friends at USA Facts, a data evangelism and dissemination outfit founded by former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.

The majority of Uncle Sam’s shepherds (and other breeds) — almost 3,000 — work for the Department of Homeland Security. About 1,100 of those DHS dogs sniff bags and whatnot for the Transportation Security Administration, otherwise known as everyone’s airport security friend, the TSA. Another 1,800 are Pentagon pooches, hard at work for the Defense Department. Together, those two departments account for 85 percent of total federal working breeds.

Across every agency and other government-adjacent institution included in the database, the most common use for dogs seems to be detecting explosives and drugs — tasks they perform in places as diverse as Amtrak (57 police dogs), the Postal Service (47 dogs) and the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (eight dogs). The SPR, in particular, would seem to have an incentive to ask its dogs to detect anything that might blow up — anything other than its 360 million barrels of crude oil, that is.

Dogs also patrol and search hard-to-reach areas, such as federal wildlife refuges; track people on Forest Service land and for the Veterans Affairs Police; and apprehend suspects for law enforcement agencies like the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service. At some agencies, dogs even work to identify currency, fi****ms, pests and invasive species.

As you might imagine, given their demanding and sometimes dangerous jobs, these productive pups often undergo months of training — more training than is required in many human occupations. GAO finds “procuring and training a dog can cost approximately $65,000 to $85,000.” If that were an annual salary, it would put our canine colleagues between GS-7 and GS-11 in D.C., depending on level of experience.

Furthermore, GAO says these dogs ought to be provided with “food and water,” housing “at a handler’s home or at a kennel,” and “exercise for working dogs appropriate to weight and breed” — the kind of lifestyle perks you don’t usually get until you rise to GS-14 or so.

03/13/2024

Thank You to all K9's who serve us humans in so many wonderful ways!

03/13/2024

Here is a nice article about bonding with our sweet doggos~

These simple exercises can foster a deeper connection with your dog and improve your mental health

03/03/2024

Please read if you are considering getting a puppy soon. We trainers are dealing with lots of folks lately who have gotten puppies at too young of an age, usually because the people who had the mama dog and the litter want to get them gone! Puppies NEED to stay with their mama dog and littermates until they are at least 8 weeks of age, preferably 10 weeks of age. This posting has some information that you should know, and if you have additional questions about this, feel free to contact me as I am happy to help~ Thanks, Jan with SUNSTAR Dog Training

02/29/2024

Doggos and their families did great on their final individual exercises last night- Heeling with turns and Sit Stays, Figure "8" Heeling, Recall, and group Sit Stay, Stand Stay, and Down Stay. Congratulations Emma, Odin, Bentley, and Shadow! 🐾🐾

02/20/2024

This makes me laugh, so cute~ We are now full for our March 6 Basic Obedience/Good Manners 6-week group class! Our next session begins April 17, and registration is now open. You can online register https://apps.daysmartrecreation.com/dash/x/ #/online/desmoines/activity-finder/programs/8/levels/1148? , or call the Field House 206 870 6527, or stop by during business hours to register too! Hope to see you and your doggo soon, Thanks, Jan

02/12/2024

We are almost full for our March six-week Basic Obedience/Good Manners Dog Training class, and we would be so happy to have you and your doggo join us! Online register https://apps.daysmartrecreation.com/dash/x/ #/online/desmoines/activity-finder/programs/8/levels/1148? or call the Field House 206 870 6527 or stop by during business hours to register- Hope to see you, and please let me know if you have any additional questions, Thanks! Jan~

02/01/2024

Our First-of-the-New-Year 2024 Class did GREAT last night on their individual Heeling with turns and Sit Stays, Figure 8 Heeling, Recall with Sit Stay, and group Sit Stay, Stand Stay, and Down Stay- Congratulations to Angus, Cosmo, Carl, and Odie, and their families!

01/16/2024

Good Article- we say to kids "Stand like a tree and don't shake the leaves"! THE most important aspect of all this is ALWAYS ask first, and if a dog owner says No Thanks, just smile and be on your way~ https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/advice/how-to-safely-greet-a-strange-dog/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_org&utm_campaign=20240116_posting&fbclid=IwAR04_8-zjw59eIv3SGKXAB7tWg31j76DjYhnOzxCogc2pZ6DG6a5PRSSLtI

Just as we have social etiquette for meeting new people, dogs have rules for greetings too. Learn how to greet strange dogs safely and politely.

12/31/2023

Please let's all be mindful of making sure our pets are always safe and happy, and especially tonight when there is likelihood of lots of flashes and loud noises. If we know our pets will be really terrified, please contact a vet for possible medication if needed. Also, having our homes be calm with low lighting, soft music or TV, and giving them a safe, comfy place to be (some do best in their kennel crate or bed, some want to be in our laps!) Of course, as always, we need to keep a current license/ID tag on them, in addition to being microchipped with current info. We should take our doggos outside ON LEASH even in our fenced yards for potty breaks, let them "do their business" and then go right back in the house. Some pets get more nervous than others and pant a lot, so make sure they have water to drink if they want. We need to always be Kind, Calm, Confident Pack Leaders, especially during these times- WE need to stay calm, act happy, wave off the flashes and noise with a laugh and act like they are no big deal...if we get nervous and stressed, so will our pets. Please take care everyone, and Happy New Year! 🐾😊🐾

12/21/2023

New classes starting January 3rd, please join us- Happy Howl-idays!

12/20/2023

We have a new session of Basic Obedience/Good Manners dog training beginning January 3, 2024! A great way to start the new year is learning how to be a "Kind, Calm, Confident Pack Leader" and to have a fun, positive relationship with our well-behaved doggos! We would be happy to have you join us- please call the Des Moines Fieldhouse 206 870 6527 or online register www.desmoineswa.gov- Violet, Daisy, Willow and I hope you are having "Happy Howl-idays" and we will see you in January, Thanks! 🐾😊🐾

Professional Dog Training and Showing since 1975- Group Dog Obedience Classes and Individual Training

12/03/2023

Fun article- Enjoy!

Put your wallet down: This canine calendar is free to download.

12/03/2023

After our wild windstorm last night, please everyone let's make sure to check our fences, gates, etc. for any storm damage before we allow our sweet doggos out in our fenced yards. Every year, when I was on duty as Animal Care and Control Officer for DMPD, I would get SO many calls about lost/found dogs that got out of their yards due to downed fences and such after a windstorm.
First thing this morning, I put on my winter coat over my jammies, and went outside to check everything before I allowed my girls in the yard. Please let's all keep our pets safe- they thank us! 🐾😊🐾 (Here are my girls Violet, Daisy, and Willow, safely inside my yard~)

11/30/2023

Our November "Basic Obedience/Good Manners" doggos did great last night on their individual exercises and group stays, I was so proud of everyone! Congratulations and Great Job to Sophie, Peg, Chance, Chica, Finnegan, and Bella...and their families!

11/12/2023

This is a heart-warming article you will enjoy! Our doggos are such amazing creatures~

The 6-year-old gentle giant was selected from a group of hundreds of other dogs and named 2023 American Humane Hero Dog.

10/26/2023

Our October "Basic Obedience/Good Manners" folks and their doggos did GREAT last night! It was Class #4, so they each did their individual Heeling with Sit Stays on the stops, left-about and right-about turns plus Figure 8's, and their group Sit Stay, Stand Stay, and Down Stay! Congratulations to all of you- Luna, Winifred, Spritz, Schatzi, Ubu, and Winnie...and their families!

10/18/2023

Having our sweet doggos learn a steady Sit Stay is vital! We were on our walk today and one of them had to "do her business"; when she finished, I put my 3 Very Good Girls on a Sit Stay while I picked up. I have had passersby comment to me they are amazed at how well-behaved they are when I do this. I know this is kind of a funny pic, but I think it is an important reminder! 😊🐾🐾

09/28/2023

Our September Basic Obedience/Good Manners class did fabulous last night on their individual final exercises! Great Job Chilli, Ranger, Ravioli, Ripley, Brother, and Birdie...and their families!