Waterfall Dog Training

01/11/2024

Health testing and understanding structure and how it affects the movement is part of being a quality breeder.

10/14/2023

There is a reason puppies are so dang cute, it's to offset the fact they are a lot of work!

No matter where you puppy comes from, the best breeder in the country, or adopted from a reputable rescue who saved them from a literal dumpster... They will be challenging, and require a lot of time and patience. They are babies, and they are growing up in a world not designed for their benefit so they have a lot to learn about how to fit in. And sometimes that includes figuring out how to keep the kids toys out of reach, and getting up at 3am to take puppy to go potty. It's all worth it! And while it's happening puppyhood seems to take forever, but it honestly goes too fast.

But if your someone who struggles with the 3am potty break, or figuring out how to teach puppy not to eat your shoes, or can't handle when accidents happen... It might be best to consider adopting an older dog who is already past their puppy-blues phase and has the mental and physical maturity to figure it all out pretty quickly.

09/20/2023

Class starts Wednesday the 20th of September at 5:15 pm!!

07/20/2023

These are 3 common areas which are easily over looked or not even consciously thought about...but can make a very big difference.
If I could number these in importance then rewarding what you DO want would be right at the top of the list.
Best of all....this can require very little effort.

If you want a calmer dog.....reward when they are calm. Not bursting out of their skin excited...but calm.
If you want a less jumpy dog.....reward when all 4 paws are on the ground.
Want your dog to rest more?....reward when they go to their bed.

Sometimes it can be as easy as adding in rewards when they show us exactly what we want to see....sometimes though we are so caught up in the behaviour which is unwanted that we can ignore all the times when dogs show us (naturally) the behaviour we really do want more of.
Have some small tasty treats on you so you can capture the moments they show you exactly what you want.....if you go to the cupboard to get the treat....the timing will be lost.
If you haven't tried rewarding the behaviour you want to see more of....add it in.

It can be a very powerful message to our dogs.

One thing that so many people do (and I have mentioned this before) is repeating the cue or "command" over and over again.
If I could wave a magic wand....I would instantly change that habit we humans have.
Making a conscious effort to not repeat what we would like over and over helps everything.....

This is a habit that you may not even realise you do.

You may recognise others doing this....you may even realise their habit is having a negative effect on what they want to achieve, and.... you may be doing EXACTLY the same in different circumstances.

Cue nagging creates "deafness" to what you say.....and it is a very big issue.

It is so ingrained that even after talking about this issue in classes....within 2-3 minutes of discussing all the issues this causes and everyone understanding these problematic repeats.....people go right back to doing it......and don't even realise they are doing it.

It takes a real effort to change this habit....but once you do....it can change everything.
Your dog listens and responds....and they understand !

So have a think about these common issues and ask your family if you do these....you may be surprised when they say yes.

06/16/2023

Tackle your Dog's reactivity easily and fast

05/12/2023

04/16/2023

Summer is here and I know a lot of my friends that may not be as dog savvy will be wanting/getting puppies!

Remember that temperament is genetic, health is genetic, and a breeder's hard work and care will help ensure you have a lovely, well rounded and enjoyable pet for the next decade.

Here are some short tips on how to find yourself a puppy from a reputable breeder and avoid backyard breeders/puppy mills/etc. This is by no means a comprehensive list and some of the Do's and Don'ts have exceptions but I wanted to keep this as short and as understandable to the average layperson as possible.

DO NOT:
-google search (insert breed here) puppies near me. Or (breed) puppies in (enter state here) And pick the website with many breeds or all breeds of puppies for sale.
-search Craigslist or Facebook ads
-search the AKC website or good dog and call it good enough. Verify all health testing suggested by the breed club. These websites are good, but you still need to verify information.
-go to a pet store with puppies (like pet land)
-start your search for a breeder/puppy when you are already ready/antsy to bring one home. Good breeders are not vending machines, they don't just pop out puppies left and right to have what you are looking for immediately when you ask. Any breeder that DOES act like a vending machine, is not one worth buying from.

DO:
-expect to spend at least $2,000-$3,000 regardless of breed. Every breed costs a different amount for various reasons but it is rare that you will find well bred puppies under that price point. You get what you pay for!! You are paying for a QUALITY companion that you will have for the next decade!
-start your search for a breeder months in advance. Get on a wait list!
-search "(insert breed here) club of America" to find the breed's parent club website. Look at breeders on there.
- always verify with ofa.org the health testing of the parent dogs.
-ask the breeder what puppy raising method they use (puppy culture, avidog, etc) some of the MOST critical socialization happens BEFORE 8 weeks. If your breeder is not checking the boxes, no amount of socialization after you take your puppy home will make up for it.
-search OFA.org and see which health tests are recommended for the parents to have and ask the breeder if they have them. (genetic testing alone is not enough!) follow up with the parent dogs registered name to verify the health results.
-read the breed standard (google search "breed" AKC standard). See what colors are acceptable, see what their temperament is like to know if it will fit your lifestyle.
-find a breeder that competes in dog type events whether it be conformation, obedience, rally, agility, scentwork, fastcat, herding,  add many others and Akc or ukc.  there are also other clubs that have sport events for dogs that they can title in.

IF you are wanting a puppy this summer and are unsure of where to start, how to identify reputable breeders, what are red flags, or simply are feeling overwhelmed... I WILL HELP by pointing you in the right direction!! Just ask!

Again, this is definitely not a comprehensive list but I know a lot of non dog-savvy people simply google search (breed) puppies near me because they don't know where else to go to find a puppy that they want. I hope this helps!

Also since I know some people will be chiming in about rescuing even though that's not what this post is about...
Rescuing/adopting is also totally acceptable. It is a personal choice. However, if you want to rescue or adopt please make sure you are adopting from a reputable rescue. Just like there are bad breeders out there there are also tons of terrible rescues. Do research. Don't let the impulsivity of wanting a dog hijack your ability to make smart decisions.

03/13/2023

Prospective puppy buyers are always told to choose a “good” or “reputable” breeder. But what does this really mean? Today’s is breaking down what it means to be a “good” breeder and why it can be so hard to tell the difference between someone you can trust and someone whose priorities are off.

Things to keep in mind when evaluating a breeding program:

-Titles don’t tell the whole story! Just because a dog has earned a championship doesn’t automatically mean their temperament is stable.

-Look for a breeder who will be honest with you about their dogs’ good traits AND bad.

-Health testing, beyond an Embark test, is a must.

Your breeder should be a source of support and help as you navigate the process of raising your puppy, so it’s important to go with a breeder you can trust!

02/13/2023

02/13/2023

"Purposefully bred purebred dogs brought to you by AKC preservation breeders. We're so proud of what we do for the next generation of the happy, healthy canine family." Bill Shelton

Per Bill Shelton - Use the quote above with a photo of your dog and share it on your page, let's show the world how proud we are leading up to our Westminster Olympics. It only takes a minute and will have a great impact for the general public.

02/13/2023

Spring is on its way and we are taking into consideration some board and trains.
Currently I am working at Petsmart as the trainer 4 days a week.
If you are looking to take basic classes I am available Tuesday-Thursday and Sundays. Private training for more problematic dogs is also available on a limited basis.
Come check out Swagger and I and perhaps one of our young girls! Always welcome to
Chat dogs!
Gypsy for photo tax!

02/13/2023

Swagger is getting ready to compete in AKC in a few weeks for his 29 and 30th titles! I’m so excited for this young boys future!