The KC Dog Guy

06/04/2024

Evening play session!

01/01/2024

Interesting article. This also applies to humans. Get you and your dog off your but. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195561623001158?via%3Dihub&fbclid=IwAR2mYVlTFzE4_T6Lpodr8SwA1iSKKJAUSgOYBGJ6qDoArzL8uk0Z0ahUyaE

Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal PracticeVolume 54, Issue 1, January 2024, Pages 87-99The Effects of Fitness Training on Working Dog Behavior: Two Case StudiesAuthor links open overlay panelClara Wilson BSc, MSc, PhD, Dana Ebbecke BA, Danielle Berger, Cynthia Otto DVM, PhD, DACVECC,...

12/30/2023

It is with the deepest grief and broken heart that I have to say our beautiful, beloved Queenie got her Angel wings today. 💔 We are absolutely devasted…there is so much I want to say about her, but I’m just not capable right now. It was an honor and joy to be Queenie’s Fairy Dog Mama these past 4 years; she was such a bright light in my life. I love you so much Queenie…and I’ll see you on the other side, baby girl! 💔😭❤️
And to all of her faithful fans and prayer warriors, thank you. THANK YOU for sharing Queenie’s happily ever after journey with us. 💖🙏💖

This was Queenie’s freedom ride. I’ve always loved this pic so much.

12/25/2022

Merry Christmas to everyone. Love your family and fur babies!

12/04/2022

Working some impulse control at breakfast this morning. This is not a one and done game, usually 4-5 repetitions with a meal or random sessions using their toys or chews. Each dog has to go to their pile of food….

09/05/2022

Park dog advice. Stay on the trails!

07/25/2022

02/16/2022

Dash and Lenny. Dash has some great play skills!

02/16/2022

Just a few pups at StinkyJ’s this weekend!!!

01/29/2022

Best dog door on the market. We’ve used these doors for over 20 years and are the best! Four+ dogs going in and out for the past 8 years and never broke!!!! Adding one to StinkyJ’s. Same r-value as a wall if you install the double flap.

09/08/2021

Hey folks check this out!!!

Episode 233 of Dog Words is available now! Eric Gilbert, The KC Dog Guy, shares his insight on dog training and we talk about when he used to hang out with our dog Peaches before we even knew her.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dog-words/id1496693461?i=1000534667298

Go to Rosiefund.org or your favorite podcast service. Subscribe. Rate. Share. Join us each week for all things dog!

Thank you to our friends at The Wires Alternative String Duo and KC Pet Project.

09/03/2021

I always talk about reinforcing behaviors when you can. This little dinner game works on stay, impulse control and recalls with distractions. Their food is in the bowl but Lenny and Lux need to ignore and come get the food from me. When I do this Synda and Sami are welcome to eat their food. Not a pretty video, but you get the point I hope.

Even old Synda wanders through later in the video.

09/03/2021

I always talk about reinforcing behaviors when you can. This little dinner game works on stay, impulse control and recalls with distractions. Their food is in the bowl but Lenny and Lux need to ignore and come get the food from me. When I do this Synda and Sami are welcome to eat their food. Not a pretty video, but you get the point I hope.

Even old Synda wanders through later in the video.

09/02/2021

Remember to just have fun with your dog. Songs by Lenny!

09/01/2021

it's not only sedentary humans humans who show mental decline. Never stop challenging your dogs - young and old!

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/canine-corner/202109/which-dogs-are-most-likely-show-mental-decline-age

A number of factors beside age can contribute to a dog's loss of mental ability.

08/31/2021

Vehicle Awarness and Off Leash Control -video 2

Disclaimer: These videos were done at a closed park ina controlled environment

Lenny need to understand situational awareness, including vehicle awareness. We worked on up, off, following, stop etc. Not a perfect video, but the cues and behaviors you teach your dog should work on leash, off leash or from a Jeep!

08/31/2021

Vehicle Awarness and Off Leash Control -video 1

Disclaimer: These videos were done at a closed park ina controlled environment

Lenny need to understand situational awareness, including vehicle awareness. We worked on up, off, following, stop etc. Not a perfect video, but the cues and behaviors you teach your dog should work on leash, off leash or from a Jeep!

07/12/2021

The Missing Part of Most Training Classes

As I was replying to a post on how to meet dogs I realized that most dog/puppy classes teach little on how to approach or meet other dogs. We are focused on training the owners dog. I've done Humane Ed for 18 years and in my own dog classes we always worked on how to meet and read other dogs - with or without your dog. This was always amplified if I had children in class or clients had children. Recovering from my recent dog bite makes this part of dog training even more important. When I get up and going again, my classes will continue to have that element reinforced to my clients. Knowing how go change up and adapt how you meet dogs is so important.

Did you know that there are better ways the letting the dog sniff your outreached hand? Or luring a nervous dog into you with a treat may actually bring that dog well past their threshold resulting in bite.

07/05/2021

Hey folks! Healing up as a well as expected from my injury and subsequent amputation. All the good thoughts really helped. I'll start taking new dog clients again this week! Now I will have to pick and choose a bit on the dogs I work. I am stil limited, but I. an definitely help you out if you have a dog issue!

05/19/2021

Functional obedience! This could be your pet dog too!

05/16/2021

It is possible to have an adventure with your dog. Me and Lux are hanging by the camp fire, coyotes howling and Lux off leash with her lighted collar. It didn’t happen overnight, but we worked on our relationship, good foundation behaviors and continued exposure to this camping environment.

Let me help you create your adventure dog!

05/15/2021

Thank you for all the interest in my training services lately! It’s been 20 years in the making and I have so many plans for unique classes that are fun and all about creating a solid relationship with your dog! A couple of new clients tonight!

05/14/2021

Create a Home Base for Your Dog

When I travel whether to clients, hiking, or especially off roading both my SUV and my Truck are home bases for Lenny and Lux. I made both of these vehicles safe spaces for them, but also a default location to head to if I tell them "Truck". This is similar to my "Home" cue on the acreage. For my two to hop and hill in my SUV is not a surprise, they also like car rides so that really helps.

When I train this I'll state the cue and then run to the Truck (SUV or Truck) and simply reward the dogs for getting in. Then I expand the cue to an inferred stay in the vehicle, further expand it to work to reduce reactivity to people walking by then eventually to having them allow people to get in the vehicle. I've done this for my Jeep also, so on the trail I can send my dogs back to the Jeep or even my Truck. For an active adventure dog I think it's important to be solid in the vehicle and also to make a safe base for your dogs.

Woofs

The KC DogGuy!

05/11/2021

Sometimes you have a rockstar puppy and then there are times you both a rockstar client and puppy. Sonny the puppy at 12 weeks with a great leave it, recall, sit and is learning so fast! Start early, make it fun and build that relationship. Post training pic .....sleepy puppy!

05/11/2021

I don't know about you, but I don't like every person I meet and dogs don't like every dog they meet. Let's not set up dogs to fail by expecting more from them than we expect of ourselves. - Lori

05/07/2021

COVID Canine Part - 2

It's coming folks get ready for it. If you did your foster program right (consistent follow-ups, training, foster support etc), you might not see the influx of animals. If you were just happy too get hundreds of foster dogs in homes with people....watch out!

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/dog-shelters-struggle-returns-pandemic-103255299.html

What happened to all those dogs adopted during the pandemic boom? They’re being returned, and shelters are struggling to deal with it Back in spring of 2020, in the early months of the pandemic, while many cities were locked down and the news was constantly changing and none of us knew what the ne...

05/04/2021

The COVID Canine

As I go into dog training full-time I want to give everyone a heads up on what another trainer friend of mine noticed back in May of 2020 - COVID Canine. With the flood of people working from home shelters found a whole new source of ready made fosters and many of you out there became new dog and puppy owners. While having time to spend with a new pup or dog is wonderful, it can have some drawbacks if we spend too much time with our animals. Combine that with little or no social interaction with the world we've created the COVID Canine. What we saw and I continue to see was an increase in the following (small example);

- Stranger danger dogs
- Separation anxiety
- under socialized leading to more shy-fearful dogs than usual

Now as we move on into the new normal, we can just throw these pups and dogs back into a routine and series of experiences they've never had. Please go slowly with your dogs, maybe even step back and do some fun puppy 101 foundation training with your dogs. Have friends slowly come back for social gatherings and avoid the big gatherings until you know if your dog can handle it. If you're unsure, well that's when you can call me.

The KC DogGuy

The more you do with your dog, the more you can do!

04/26/2021

Down at KROCKs this weekend and took Lux. She has a favorite park toy. We call it Park Pig! Let’s see your dog’s favorite toy and how you use for training!!

04/26/2021

Anti-Retirement

I hinted earlier to May 1st as being the start to doing my passions full time. The decision has been tough. Work longer even though I’ve hit my “number”,or continue to work because I like my field and want to work. Well, I applied at and got interviews at several cool companies and jobs. Made it to the finals and was not picked as a the one they wanted to hire (joys of over 50 job searching). Looked at my “number” again and said if I wait longer, I’ll just be older and my 20 year passion for dogs will not be fulfilled.

So to those companies who passed on this kickass older employee - Thank you for not hiring me! To Home Depot, thank you for a wonderful year! The job, the people and the company are top notch and I will always appreciate how much work goes into retail.

After May 1st, I’ll be the KC DogGuy full-time and will be anti-retired. I have a ton of work to do to get the business side of the KC DogGuy back up and running, but I will be going full force back into client consults and also spending time with all my shelter and rescue peeps. I plan to offer traditional training classes, but limited to just 4-5 dogs and will have a bit of a twist to them. Imagine group classes combined with a series of private trainings outside those classes!!!!

In addition to the following(examples);

Adventure Dog Series – Off roading and hiking with your dog, Canine Biathlon Training Group, Snake Proofing Your Dog, Camping with Your Dog and pretty much anything else you can think of to create your very own adventure dog.

Dog Day Out With Training – With the days of COVID and working from home, dogs need a break from their owners. Maybe your dog is not a Doggy Daycare kinda of dog, or your dog needs a bit of training on that day out instead of just dog play. This is open just to my client dogs, but I’ll snag your dog for a day of fun and training and drop them back off at your place. (no overnights).

Canine Socialization Groups – Again, open to just my clients so I know each dog in the group. A laid back session of dog socialization, training games and an opportunity for my clients to keep working on what their dog needs.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/at-careers-end-maybe-we-should-embrace-anti-retirement-11619201250