Training Your Best Friend LLC

12/21/2024

🎄"Out of the blue" incidents occur at this time of year and there is a lot more stress for our dogs (yes... stress can also be from positive experiences).
This holiday season dogs will be communicating with us.
We need to start to hear what they are saying.
Is that sudden "goofy" behaviour around the visitors from being happy, over excited or fear?
YOU know you are about to have many visitors, noise, children and maybe another dog visit the house....dogs do not and suddenly their quiet home is now loud, exciting and even scary for some.
Be prepared and have an action plan if you start to recognise your dog is starting to show signs they may be uncomfortable around what is happening in their own home.
They need supervision at this time of year, they need check ins from you and we need to help them when we see there is a possible emotional escalation happening.
These are certainly not all communication signals dogs give us....but this is a great start to help us recognise some new ones they may show at this time of year that we may have never seen before.
This dog training handout is available through abcdogsnz.com

12/18/2024

This is an excellent post . Hit the nail on the head. We need to think and our dogs needs and wants first.

12/17/2024

I have a very important announcement to make. I posted a few weeks ago that my brother was very sick. My brother's health has further declined. The past two weeks has been very difficult as I've had to make some very serious and heart wrenching decisions.

My brother- Glenn is currently at UNC Chapel Hill Hospital in critical condition. He and I are the only close relatives we have. I have overseen his care from Group homes to Nursing Homes, Hospitals, Surgeries, Doctor visits and more. I walked through the fire and still circling the flames! My brother is my top priority. I am taking time off from training and rescheduling classes except Reactive Rover until Spring.

Below are a few photos of me and my brother and from a happier Christmas, his stay at just one of the nursing homes to a couple of my favorite photos of us as kids. He was such a beautiful child.

Although I am his little sister I have always protected and been there for him. and I will continue to be. I ask for your prayers and understanding as I walk this heart wrenching path with my sweet brother. I don't know how much time I have with him but this is where I need to be.

12/12/2024

Truth!

DON’T GET A DOG…UNLESS YOU CAN MAKE A COMMITMENT

In an ideal world dogs would be included as a family member and we would commit to sharing our time and life with them in the relatively short time they have on earth.

In an ideal world, we would take the time to learn about how dogs communicate through their body language, their emotions, their needs and keep learning about updated, modern, force free / pain free methods to understand or modify behaviour.

In reality, dogs are so often seen as an item of property, an object, a commodity to be bred and make money from, a cheap, replaceable security system, a garden decoration, a toy to play with when the kids are bored or an accessory that looks good while out walking, running or taking selfies.

Dogs are not objects, just like us they are sentient beings with the capacity to feel a range of emotions.

Dogs are naturally social beings and need to spend time with their human family.

A life spent confined to a backyard or fenced in with little or no human companionship is not a life.

They need love and attention, exercise and mental stimulation. They need routine, consistency and predictable patterns to feel safe and secure in our world.

Having a dog requires commitment, understanding, patience and dedication.

It’s hard work, it’s sometimes messy, dirty and stinky, it costs money and requires changes to our lifestyle.

It’s a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly or without making a long term commitment, but the rewards of forming a secure bond with another sentient being can bring so much joy and enrichment to both our lives and theirs.

12/06/2024

Have you put up your Christmas tree yet? 🎄 Here are some tips every pet parent should know! Learn more here: https://aercmn.com/christmas-tree-safety-for-pets/

12/06/2024

Enrolling for our January Puppy Kindergarten Class! This 7-week program is designed for puppies 8 weeks to 5 months of age.

Classes begin Thursday, January 9 (6:30 pm-7:30 pm) Training is held at Hollywood Feed Pet Store located at 9660 Falls of the Neuse Rd. (Falls Pointe Shopping Center)

For more information, cost & enrollment, please visit us online at:
https://trainingyourbestfriend.com/puppy-kindergarten-class/

Our Puppy Class covers leash training, introduction to basic commands, house manners, confidence building exercises, safety protocols, nutrition as well as socialization- introducing your puppy to other puppies and people, as well as new surfaces, obstacles & noises in a positive way.

We cover important puppy topics such as house training, crate training, nipping chewing, jumping, barking, and more. Our puppy program helps to lay the foundation for a happy, polite, and well-adjusted dog who is a pleasure to be around.

Weekly Classes are progressive as not to overwhelm you or your puppy. Each week you will receive handwritten weekly homework for take home practice with your puppy.

Register soon! Class size is limited!

12/06/2024

Enrollment is open for January Basic Obedience Class. Our 7-week curriculum begins Tuesday, January 7 (6:30 pm-7:30 pm) Training is conducted at Hollywood Feed Pet Store located at 9660 Falls of the Neuse Rd. Raleigh (Falls Pointe Shopping Center).

For more information & to Enroll- Please click on the link below.
https://trainingyourbestfriend.com/basic-obedience/

Basic Obedience focuses on handling skills, leash walking, impulse control, manners, polite greetings, socialization skills. This class teaches basic commands such as" watch me", sit, wait, down, stay, come when called, leave it and door manners.

Important issues such as pulling on the leash, lunging, jumping barking, chewing, mouthing & more.

Weekly Classes are progressive as not to overwhelm you or your canine. Each week you will receive detailed step by step handwritten homework for take home practice with your pup.

Save your spot & enroll today. Class size is limited!

12/04/2024

UNDERSTANDING THE NATURAL BEHAVIOURS OF YOUR PETS CAN HELP YOU IMPROVE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM.

Dogs are social animals and have a wide range of natural behaviours. These behaviours are instinctive and are used to communicate with other dogs and humans. Common natural behaviours in dogs include barking, digging, chasing and chewing. Dogs also display behaviours such as jumping, licking, marking and play-bowing. These behaviours are all natural and help dogs to interact with their environment and with other animals. It is a way to communicate with those who are willing to listen!

Read more in today's article: https://thebulletin.co.za/life/columnist/animals-101-exploring-the-natural-behaviours-of-your-pets/

12/02/2024

This is important info

You are competing with an environment that is FULL of distractions and temptations.👀
Reward those check ins ! You are making yourself VALUABLE to be near and around.
Reward those "smaller" choices when your dog actively leaves something semi interesting to come back to you, even in your own yard.
I know many people want this but it is a process and if you have a dog that is over aroused, over excited or just doesn't know how to check in with you....it is a process.
If your dog barely listens to you in your home, yard or on a walk in your street.....there is a bit of work to do before you get them to listen or stay close in a new or highly distracting environment.
Take it slow.
These things do take time. If you have a dog that has over arousal and over excitement , that MUST be worked on first.
Dog training posters available abcdogsnz.com

12/01/2024

Exciting News! Enrollment is open for Pet therapy Class! Classes are set to begin January 12 (2:30- 3:30 pm) Unlike other Pet Therapy Classes which are held in a classroom, Training Your Best Friend LLC has partnered with Springmoor Retirement Center in Raleigh to provide real life training to set your dog up to be a successful Pet Therapy Canine. Dogs are trained with real patients, obstacles, noises, elevators, scents and more. This is where the rubber meets the road. Class size is strictly limited to six dogs!

For more info & to enroll - please visit us online at:
https://trainingyourbestfriend.com/pet-therapy-2/

If your dog absolutely loves people and being petted and has a gentle sweet nature- consider making your beloved companion a pet therapy. As someone who had worked in a nursing facility as well as having parents who lived in a nursing home-I can testify to the full joy and comfort that pets bring to residents & to staff.

Training will provide your partners for the pet therapy certification so you can visit hospitals, nursing homes, group homes, orphanages as well other medical facilities that welcome Pet Therapy Pets.

Enroll today & make a difference in someone's life!

11/30/2024

Play suddenly turns❓
What are some signals dogs don't appreciate in play ?
These are just some that can cause play to suddenly turn.
Not all dogs have good play skills and some have very awkward play styles and can even play inappropriately....so not all dogs that do posture over a dog, neck hold and stand over are showing possible problematic play behaviour.
Generally speaking though these can lead to play suddenly turning.
Dog training posters available abcdogsnz.com

11/27/2024

Enrollment is open for our January Reactive Rover Class!

Classes begin Saturday, January 11 (11 am - 12 pm)
To enroll, please visit us at:
https://trainingyourbestfriend.com/reactive-rover/

Reactive Rover is a 7-week curriculum for dogs that are aggressive towards people, other dogs or both. The first class is orientation without dogs to prepare you for the class.

Classes are held outdoors at a private location (away from people and other dogs). At the beginning of actual hands-on training, each handler and their dog will be place at a safe distance as not to allow each dog to go over their threshold and remain calm as possible. Safety is our first priority.

I specialize in Aggressive and Fearful Behaviors & have years of experience with high success rate. Aggressive dog behavior will not go away on its own. The dog will not grow out of it. Left untreated, both the frequency and the intensity of the problems will increase.

Training an aggressive dog requires dedication, time, and a well-structured approach through positive reinforcement, management skills and Behavioral Modification techniques.

You will learn to lower stress (in both you and your dog), build calmness and attention, train alternate behaviors to reactivity and/or over arousal, reinforce the absence of reactivity, and most importantly build your dog’s confidence and trust in you providing a safe emotional state which will facilitate behavior change.

You will also learn to better read your dog and to help your dog learn to make better choices in stressful situations. You and your dog will gain confidence in handling situations that used to make your dog react aggressively.

Enroll today and change the journey!

11/27/2024

Enrollment is officially open for our Fearful Fido Class! Classes begin Wednesday, January 8 (6:30 pm-7:30 pm). We have moved this class to Hollywood Feed Pet Store (inside the private community room). 9660 Falls of the Neuse Rd (Falls Pointe Shopping Center). Class is strictly limited to 6 dogs.

If any of the photos below resemble your dog's body language - This class is for you & your companion.

For more Info & to Enroll - visit us at: https://trainingyourbestfriend.com/fearful-fido/

Fearful Fido is a 7 -week Behavior Modification Class designed for dogs that are scared or shy to new situations, people, dogs, noises and or obstacles.

Class concentrates on building confidence and helping dogs face their fears in a safe and productive way. Our Fearful Fido curriculum provides consistency and predictability so that the dog always knows what to expect.

We will show you the skills to help your dog deal with their fear. Classes deal with learning to read dog’s body language and understanding how to make your dog more comfortable and relaxed in different environments and around people and other dogs.

Register today!

11/27/2024

Enrollment is now open for our January Puppy Kindergarten Class! This 7-week program is designed for puppies 8 weeks to 5 months of age.

Classes begin Thursday, January 9 (6:30 pm-7:30 pm) Training is held at Hollywood Feed Pet Store located at 9660 Falls of the Neuse Rd. (Falls Pointe Shopping Center)

For more information, cost & enrollment, please visit us online at:
https://trainingyourbestfriend.com/puppy-kindergarten-class/

Our Puppy Class covers leash training, introduction to basic commands, house manners, confidence building exercises, safety protocols, nutrition as well as socialization- introducing your puppy to other puppies and people, as well as new surfaces, obstacles & noises in a positive way.

We cover important puppy topics such as house training, crate training, nipping chewing, jumping, barking, and more. Our puppy program helps to lay the foundation for a happy, polite, and well-adjusted dog who is a pleasure to be around.

Weekly Classes are progressive as not to overwhelm you or your puppy. Each week you will receive handwritten weekly homework for take home practice with your puppy.

Register soon! Class size is limited!

11/27/2024

Enrollment is officially open for our Newly Revised Public Manners Class that are more dynamic, creative, & comprehensive training. So excited to offer a stronger version of training. We have a back plan inside for inclement weather.

Classes begin Saturday, January 11 (9:30 am to 10:30 am)
For more info & to enroll- click on the link below:
https://trainingyourbestfriend.com/public-manners/

Public Manners is a seven-week curriculum that meets at various locations weekly so we can work around countless distractions. This class is designed to offer great opportunities for you to put your dog in “real-world” situations while remaining in a semi- controlled environment, allowing you to train your dog and establish the relationship and leadership you’ll need with your dog when you go out in public. We start with low key environment with few distractions to begin the process. Each week new exercises are added on at a specific pace and at specific location.

Public Manners focuses on skills such as safe & appropriates socialization, leash training, basic cues, mat work (that will improve your dog's focus & attention span) Your companion will learn to walk through crowds, meet & greet politely, settle down at restaurants, coffee shops etc. We set up an obstacle course during one training session to further strengthen effective communication as well as promote teamwork between your dog and you.

Issues such as jumping, barking, lunging and not listening to direction are absolutely addressed. You will learn the skills to know how to help your dog both at home and out in public.
Enroll today and embark on a journey in setting your "Best Friend" up for success!

Register Today! Class size is strictly limited

11/25/2024

Had to share this. Dentley Dog Training. Absolutely the truth. Let me add they expect the trainer to fix the dog like it is a robot. Training g consist is plenty of patience. Investment in daily training as well as everyone in the household following the same strategy

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