The Sophisticated Dog

20/02/2024

Do you want to learn how to potty train your puppy in 5 easy steps? Click below and scroll!

Potty training is a essential part of being a puppy parent. Learn how to potty train your puppy, with expert tips and troubleshooting advice.

07/02/2024

If you’re looking for some world class dog training support, focusing on protecting the emotional wellbeing of both you and your dog, I invite you to register for “Kindness Is Essential Not Optional”: The Dog Behaviour Conference (🔗 below).

My friend Dr Holly Tett has invited 28 top experts for this COMPLIMENTARY conference on how to help your dog to feel safe and happy and how to get the training results you want in a way that your dog loves. 🐾 ❤️

You can get access to all of it by clicking here. ➡️ https://irith.kienoconference.com

02/02/2024

Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt a little alone or overwhelmed with your dog training. 🙋‍♀️ Having a successful relationship with your dog and overcoming difficulties together comes down to three main things:

1. A level of trust and connection between you and your dog (and this doesn’t appear overnight!)

2. Taking training at your dog’s pace, regardless of how quickly or slowly others might be moving, and understanding WHY you are teaching certain skills

3. Accessing good quality support from professionals with the emotional wellbeing of your dog at the forefront of everything they recommend to you

If you aren’t seeing the progress that you might like, it’s likely that one (or more) of these is missing... or the different pieces just aren’t quite put together right just yet.

If you’d like some help figuring it all out and moving forward with your dog’s training and your relationship together, then register for this free online event. We can’t wait to see you in there 👉 https://irith.kienoconference.com

01/02/2024

Leash training + leash walking for puppies with Dale Buchanan! 🎙️

In this episode me and Irith Bloom discuss leash training and leash walking for puppies. We talk about the how to get started and what to do when problem beh...

29/01/2024

Dogs are our beloved companions and friends. We want them to have happy, healthy and fulfilled lives and to take part in family activities, adventures and more.

There’s no getting away from the fact though, that bringing up a dog can feel hard sometimes. Whether this is your first dog, or you’ve had dogs for 20 years, we all face challenges in training, or come up against tricky behaviours that we don’t always know what to do with.

The good news is that no matter how old your dog is, when you welcomed them home, or whatever challenges you might be facing, there are so, so many kind, effective and force-free solutions that can help….not just your dog, but you too!

I want to introduce you to my friend Holly. Holly is a behaviourist and human clinical psychologist too. She helps dogs and their humans to build a trusting, rock solid connection in a way that feels fun and not like a battle.

And she is hosting a free, 14 day virtual event starting Monday 12th February. I’m featured as one of the guest expert speakers for: “Kindness Is Essential, Not Optional”: The Dog Behaviour Conference..

…and there are 27 other world-class speakers sharing their knowledge and expertise for free.

Register here for free access https://irith.kienoconference.com.

25/01/2024

Any guesses as to what Vic and Dougal (isn't he adorbs?!) 😍 are working on during this session?

25/01/2024

It always tastes so much better from the faucet than it does from the bowl.

24/01/2024

Stay tuned, folks! My episode airs THIS FRIDAY, 1/26! 🙌 So many puppy parents struggle with puppy-overwhelm and I know my session at this week's summit will offer invaluable insights to help get them on the right path with their puppy.

24/01/2024

Recent 🎙️ podcast episode I did with my friend Charlotte Bayne. Have a listen to discover the truth behind "small dog syndrome"!

A modern lifestyle podcast for dogs and their people

19/01/2024

Leash training and leash walking for puppies 🎙️ podcast time! Here's what I discussed with Dale Buchanan, the host of Puppy Talk Podcast:

👉 At what age should new puppy owners start leash training?

👉 What is the best equipment for puppies? Leash length collars, harness…

👉 What types of walks should new puppy owners focus on? Potty break walks? Obedience walks? Enrichment walks?

👉 How to best handle minor puppy walk behaviors such as chewing on leash, jumping, picking up things off the ground?

In this episode me and Irith Bloom discuss leash training and leash walking for puppies.

10/01/2024

Don’t you wish puppies came with instructions?

If you’ve ever thought that, then you’ll definitely want to sign up for the ‘Your Puppy Blueprint’ Summit.- where you can stop guessing, wondering, and Googling how to have a well-behaved puppy and turn the chaos to calm!

My friend (or just colleague if you prefer), Kelly Fahey, has brought together 25+ top experts in dog behavior and training for this complimentary conference on raising a puppy (and surviving puppyhood). The best part is it’s FREE to you!

Raising a puppy isn’t easy and some days can feel overwhelming. Come hang out with me and the other amazing trainers and behavior professionals who will be part of the event, helping you with all your puppy predicaments.

So if you would like to:

✅ Get help with your puppy predicaments
✅ Understand your puppy better
✅ Improve your training skills to help build a better connection with your puppy
✅ Have access to helpful, accurate information
✅ Finally have the joy and life you envisioned when you brought your puppy home

Then this event is for you!

AND… you’ll be hearing from me, talking about one of my favorite topics add your personalized part here or delete this sentence if you wish.

The best part is, all of this applies to your rambunctious dog, not just puppies.

Registration is open now. Event starts 1/22.

I saved you a FREE front row seat. But you have to register to be part of it!
Claim your front row seat to the event below. 👇

Register here for the 2024 Your Puppy Blueprint virtual summit.

09/01/2024

Fun Observation: It appears sessions can be more successful when the dog's people have to do all the hands on training and are properly coached by a trainer guiding them remotely.

*This, of course, is not the case for every dog and every situation, but it is a something to take note of.

In Liz Murdoch's sessions as a dog communicator, it frequently comes up in her conversations with the dogs that many do want to go back to dog school and som...

03/01/2024

City streets are coated with deicing substances like sodium chloride (rock salt) and calcium chloride. Both of these substances can damage paw pads, so wipe those furry paws off after each walk this winter!

26/12/2023

Want to know how you can potty train your dog in 7 days? Follow along on one family’s potty training journey and learn how you can housetrain your dog, too. It goes a little something like this:

>Take your puppy out at least once every 30 minutes.
>Give your puppy 5 minutes, watching the whole time to see if he pees or poops.
>Praise and offer a treat if he pees or poops outside within five minutes.
>After he pees or poops, give him off-leash fun time

Repeat these steps throughout the day.

Want to know how you can potty train your dog in 7 days? Here are the top tips for housetraining a dog, according to a trainer.

24/12/2023

What's on your dog's wishlist? It's 2023, so almost every dog has one now!

22/12/2023

Happy holidays from all of us here at The Sophisticated Dog!! ☃️

22/12/2023

100%! Give your dog time to recharge his or her social battery over the holiday season.

22/12/2023

It's as easy as A-B-C-D-E-F! Read all the details on how and why in the link below, but the overall sequence looks like this:

A. Place mat on floor
B. Dog lies down on mat
C. Praise and feed
D. Feed 10 more times in a row at the current time interval
E. Say release cue or call dog and toss food to the side
F. Pick up mat

Don’t forget to follow the treating pattern!

Training your pup to settle on a mat comes in handy and can even keep your pet safe. Learn how to train your dog to rest on a mat in 10 easy steps.

21/12/2023

New research just came out on eye color in dogs. It will be interesting to see what future studies on the topic reveal!

Humans may have selected for a color they found friendlier—and less threatening

14/12/2023

It's not that hard to believe when you have the right mindset ( ) and the right professionals helping you both learn!

12/12/2023

Roll over might seem like a complex behavior, but if you break it down into baby steps, your dog can show off their adorable new skill in no time.

Learn how to teach a dog to roll over with this simple, step-by-step guide with pro-tips from an expert dog trainer.

07/12/2023

Do my fellow know about the course my friend and business partner, Kristina Spaulding, runs each year? It's a professional course called the Advanced Consulting Practicum, and it is an incredible opportunity to get personal case consulting from a true expert! 🙌

You can find all the details here: https://sciencemattersllc.com/advanced-consulting

07/12/2023

Take a look at the first of a three-part series on luring by my associate, Paul!

This post was contributed by my associate, Paul. Interested in training with Paul? Contact us! What is luring? One easy way to teach basic commands such as sit and down is to use treats to guide your dog into position. Using treats in this way is often called “luring.” Here is an example: To tea...

30/11/2023

Last chance to sign up for my Fenzi Dog Sports Academy webinar on dealing with out-of-control behavior -- the webinar starts in about 30 minutes!

Online dog training classes for obedience, rally, agility, tracking, nosework, dog behavior, freestyle, and foundation skills.

30/11/2023

And they each play a pivotal role in training a well-balanced (and well-behaved) pet.

29/11/2023

My Fenzi Dog Sports Academy webinar on over-the-top behavior in dogs is TOMORROW! Sign up now!

Online dog training classes for obedience, rally, agility, tracking, nosework, dog behavior, freestyle, and foundation skills.

28/11/2023

, it’s time to check on your feline’s mental health. Seeing any of these signs and symptoms of separation anxiety? Yes? First, stop and call your vet. If all checks out, then consider adding a little enrichment to your cat’s alone time at home with any of these ideas!

If you're wondering if your cat has separation anxiety, know that it can be tricky to diagnose. Learn about the signs of separation anxiety in cats and how to treat it.

27/11/2023

Vets are now recommending dog owners avoid dog parks and boarding facilities due to the mysterious respiratory ailment that has affected dogs in multiple states.

As a mystery illness infects dogs in several states, veterinarians urge simple precautions like avoiding doggy day care and kennels.

26/11/2023

Today is your last chance to get a replay of my webinar on addressing fearful behavior in the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy Webinar Anniversary Week Sale!

To get the webinar, click on https://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/index.php/buy-webinar and then choose "Instant Access: Irith Bloom - Addressing Fearful Behavior."

Online dog training classes for obedience, rally, agility, tracking, nosework, dog behavior, freestyle, and foundation skills.

25/11/2023

Teaching your dog to stay by you in heel position helps keep them safe, and also makes walks a lot easier on you both. So, how do you get started? 👇Here’s how to teach a dog to heel in seven steps.

“Heel” is the ultimate dog recall command, and with some patience and practice, you’ll be able to call your pup to your side with ease.