Hampl's Dog Obedience

01/05/2025

Great read that hold true whether you rescue or get a dog from a breeder.

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01/01/2025

Come join the best.

NADOI Associate Membership is now available - for details and to register, please visit the webiste at https://nadoi.org

12/30/2024

A New Years Resolution: Think Exercise for both you and your dog.

People often ask me how much exercise their dog needs every day. The answer will depend on the age, size and breed of dog. But every dog needs both physical and mental exercise every day. A bored, under exercised dog frequently displays unwanted behaviors like jumping, chewing, digging and escaping the yard. An under exercised dog also may appear to be very hyper and anxious.

I have had Golden Retrievers since December of 1971. Golden Retrievers, a breed from the Sporting Group, as well as dogs from the Working and Herding groups all crave exercise. I have always been fortunate to be able to hike and cross country ski with my dogs.

A responsible pet owner looks for ways to provide their dog with daily exercise. Hour long walks on leash and games of fetch in the yard provide the dog with some exercise. But the very best exercise for a dog is free running. Free running gives a dog a chance to move at its own pace and to explore the environment, thus providing the dog with both physical and mental exercise. If a dog is to run free safely it must have a reliable “Come”, a good “Leave It”. But most importantly the dog must have a safe place to run. If you don't have access to woods where your dog can run think about renting a local fully fenced Sniff Spot. If you are concerned about your recall, whistle train your dog, keep it on a dragging long line when your first visit. Practice recall multiple times during their hour of freedom. Bring really good rewards. If you are not physically able to exercise a dog rethink your choice of breed or hire a dog walker.

So as you enter the busy Holiday Season and are thinking of New Year Resolutions keep in mind that both dog and owner benefit from more exercise.

© 2024

12/24/2024

Merry Christmas to all our students, two and four legged.

12/17/2024

Please think about donating to our local animal rescues this year. PACK, CHEW, the Humane Society of Tacoma to name a few. Do not fall for the advertizing of the National Groups.

🚨 BREAKING: ANIMAL RESCUE IN PROGRESS 🚨

An estimated 35 dogs and 20 cats are on their way to our shelter as the result of an ongoing animal cruelty investigation.

The arrival of these pets pushes us to a critical capacity level, with our team already caring for 126 dogs in the shelter. These additional dogs mean we must resort to temporary kennels and this level of capacity creates additional stress for the animals, staff, and volunteers.

We'll share more details on this case as they become available, but we urgently need your support in the coming days. Here’s how you can help:

📣 ADOPT: We are in desperate need of adopters to help provide homes to the amazing dogs in our care. You can even foster-to-adopt a dog awaiting spay/neuter surgery. View all our adoptable dogs: thehumanesociety.org/adoptable-pet-category/dogs/

📣FOSTER: Foster families are urgently needed, especially for large-breed dogs. We provide all the supplies and medical care; you provide love and a temporary home. Learn about fostering here: thehumanesociety.org/get-involved/foster/

📣DONATE: Our resources are stretched to the max, and we could use your support to provide medical care, food, enrichment and shelter for the influx of pets coming our way. If you are able, please consider making a monetary gift to contribute to their care. thehumanesociety.org/donate/

📣LOST PETS: Prevent animals from entering the shelter by helping find their families and holding on to them temporarily. If you’ve lost or found an animal, please visit our Lost/Found page for what do to next, while also helping us manage our capacity. thehumanesociety.org/lost-and-found-pets/

12/13/2024

Keeping Your Dog Safe During the Holidays
Jeanne Hampl

With the Holidays just around the corner, there are many things to consider in order to keeping your pets healthy, safe, and happy.

Alcoholic beverages: Drunken dogs or cats are very sick animals. An ounce of a beverage that is 20 to 40 proof can cause alcohol poisoning or coma in a small dog.
Angel hair: This is made from spun glass. It can irritate the skin, cause cuts, and damage the eyes. If eaten, it can cause intestinal blockage. Tinsel can also be ingested with the same results.

Artificial Snow/Flocking: These are possibly poisonous, can cause digestive upset or be a respiratory irritant if inhaled. Spray only the upper corners of high windows.

Candles: Flame or dripping wax can burn dogs or singe their whiskers or hair. Also, they are a fire hazard if the dog knocks them over. Save candles for the dining room table.

Christmas trees: Place your tree away from a normal traffic pattern. Tie the top of the tree with the fishing line and then secure this to the ceiling. By using this system the tree cannot fall over. Use non breakable ornaments on the lower section of the tree. Don’t leave a gift containing food under the tree.

Costumes and dressing up: If you like to 'dress up' your dog for the holidays, beware of anything which might cause strangulation or choking. Also be sure to introduce your dog to people in costumes. Let Trick or Treaters or Santa say hello and give your dog some treats.

Electric cable: Dogs and cats can be shocked, burned or electrocuted by chewing on cable. It is safer to run cables through PVC piping.

Decorations: Glue, rubber bands, staples, string, tacks and tape can cause mild pain, serious complications, or death if swallowed. Store them in a secure place. Discard used items when decorations are removed.
Decorative lights: Pets can become tangled in the strands, leading to burns and cuts. They can create the same hazards as electric cables.

Fire/fireplaces, including ashes, popping wood: These can cause bronchial irritation, burns, skin irritation and digestive distress. Keep a fire screen in front of a fireplace while in use.

Food: Bones can cause choking, internal punctures, possibly death.

Chocolate can cause Theo bromine poisoning, which is an over stimulation of the nervous system, and may be fatal. Chocolate also causes vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, hyperactivity and seizures. Fatty, spicy, or sweet foods lead to gastric upset, dehydration and pancreatitis. Burns and mouth or throat ulcerations can result from hot food. Do not share your holiday goodies with your dog. If you can resist give a healthy treat. Do not leave cooking food unattended or set hot dishes near edge of stove or counter. Do not leave sweets or other snacks where your dog can reach them.

Gift wrapping: Ribbon, trim polystyrene foam packaging, wrapping foil and paper are dangerous if eaten by your dog. Always wrap packages in an area away from your dog. Collect and discard all the waste. Put away any wrapping paper and supplies you are not using. If you have any gifts for your dog, use plain brown paper, wrap loosely and supervise unwrapping.

Guests: Guests are more likely to feed your dog and “'just a little bite” adds up to quite a lot of food. Always advise your guests not to feed your dog. Guests are also more likely to accidentally let your dog out an opened door.

Plants: Holiday plants, such as holly, ivy, mistletoe and poinsettia, range from mildly upsetting to extremely toxic. If eaten they can cause gastrointestinal irritation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, coma, central nervous system or cardiac problems, or even death.

Remember your dog’s crate or pen. It is a safe place for a dog to be when you are too busy to supervise your dog’s activities.

With a little bit of planning you and your pets can have a safe and Happy Holiday season.
©2023

12/11/2024

Walk in the Park class will start up again on Jan 11, 2025. Walk in the Park is an intermediate class for dogs that have attended a Puppy or Beginner Class. e-mail praise_luke@hotmail. com to register.

12/07/2024

A very wet morning for Walk in the Park. My magic couldn't hold for another week or it;s timing was off. The rain stopped as class ended. Today was a day filled with visual distractions of a well decorated downtown Gig Harbor.

12/07/2024

This little guy needs a forever home. Adopt him and Hampl's Dog Obedience will donate obedience lessons in the classes starting Jan 6th.

12/05/2024

If you have a pet get insurance.

11/30/2024

A beautiful morning for Walk in the Park. We talked about the importance of building the 3 "D's" Duration, Distance and Distraction into training. We also worked on Unders, Long-line work and got to play on the play structure and meet the Cows..

11/28/2024

Just remember no greasy turkey for the dogs.

11/23/2024

A dry and chilly fall day for Walk in the Park. We worked on buddy walking, neutral dog greetings, recalls and open field work. Distractions today: Bicycles, dogs and walkers

11/22/2024

A busy two weeks of Private Lessons. Privates come in all sizes and ages. For some it is learning basic obedience . For others it is working on a specific behavior issue.