Crimson Hound Training

12/27/2025

Celebrating the Season with 31 Dog Days of December
Day 27: Recalls

Dogs LOVE to play chase. Use this to teach great recalls.
- Grab some high value treats.
- Toss a treat behind you and ask your dog to Find It. While he is getting it, run or walk in the opposite direction.
- When he catches up to you, give him a big jackpot reward or his absolute favorite treat. Don't be stingy! A good recall can be the difference between life and death for your dog.
- Repeat this many times.
- Add a verbal cue as you run in the opposite direction.
- Continue to repeat the game many times - adding distractions as your dog gets better and better at the recall.
- Now, grab a long line (a 25, 30, 50 or even 100 foot leash) and take your game on the road to add more distractions.
- NEVER let your dog off-leash if you have any doubt that your dog will come back to you.
- NEVER punish your dog when he comes back to you. This cue needs to be extremely positive ALL of the time.

*NEVER fade the lure. Recalls are one area where your dog should get a reward (food or play) every time he comes when called.

*NEVER use your verbal cue if you have any doubt that your dog will come back to you. Instead, go to your dog and leash him up.

*Use a different cue for getting your dogs to come in the house from outside. I use 'inside'. Save your recall cue for real recalls.

Whether you have concerns about aggressive behavior, are struggling with puppy issues, need advice on how to help your fearful dog or just want to set your dog or puppy up for success, I am here to help. Contact me today at [email protected] or visit my website at https://www.crimsonhound.com .

12/27/2025

12/26/2025

Celebrating the Season with 31 Dog Days of December
Day 26: Fading the Lure

Does your dog only do what you ask if you have a treat in your hand?

Here are some tips to teach him that a treat in your hand does not affect whether or not he gets a reward.

Let your dog see you put treats in your pocket or on the counter. Give him a cue. Mark and reward with one of those treats. Work on this with treats farther away and out of sight.

Drop the 'every cue means a treat' pattern and begin randomizing rewards. e.g., Ask for 2 sits, then reward; now ask for 3 sits, then reward; then 1 sit, and ... jackpot!; then 2 puppy pushups, and reward, etc.

Always give verbal praise. If you don't give your dog feedback, he won't know whether or not he is doing what you are asking him to do. .

The reward does not have to be food:
- Reward with playtime with a valued toy like tug, fetch, etc..
- Reward a low value behavior with a high value activity. e.g., If you can wait nicely at the door, we can go out for a walk. This is called the Premack Principle and it is basically the 'eat your veggies and you can have dessert' contingency.

Whether you have concerns about aggressive behavior, are struggling with puppy issues, need advice on how to help your fearful dog or just want to set your dog or puppy up for success, I am here to help. Contact me today at [email protected] or visit my website at https://www.crimsonhound.com.

12/25/2025

Celebrating the Season with 31 Dog Days of December
Day 25: Just Chillin'

Sometimes, the best medicine for our dogs, and for us, is just chillin'.

Spend some time with your pup, just relaxing and enjoying each other's company.

When you are out on a walk, sit down and just watch the world go by.

Whether you have concerns about aggressive behavior, are struggling with puppy issues, need advice on how to help your fearful dog or just want to set your dog or puppy up for success, I am here to help. Contact me today at [email protected] or visit my website at https://www.crimsonhound.com .

12/24/2025

Celebrating the Season with 31 Dog Days of December
Day 24: Holiday Food Safety

These are some of the foods most toxic to dogs.
- Xylitol (AKA Birch Sugar)
- Chocolate
- Grapes
- Alcohol
- Onions and Garlic
- Raisins and Currants
- Cooked poultry & fish bones
- Macadamia nuts and walnuts
- Mushrooms

ANIMAL POISON CONTROL: (888) 426-4435

Download a handout to stick to your fridge here: https://doggiedrawings.net/products/worlds-most-dangerous-foods-for-dogs?collection=free-downloads

Here are two extended lists:
https://www.aspcapro.org/resource/people-foods-pets-should-never-eat
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/human-foods-dogs-can-and-cant-eat/

Chocolate Toxicity Calculator: https://www.petmd.com/dog/chocolate-toxicity

Products that contain Xylitol: https://www.preventivevet.com/xylitol-products-toxic-for-dogs

Whether you have concerns about aggressive behavior, are struggling with puppy issues, need advice on how to help your fearful dog or just want to set your dog or puppy up for success, I am here to help. Contact me today at [email protected] or visit my website at https://www.crimsonhound.com .

12/24/2025

Wishing you and yours all the joys of the season - whichever winter holiday you observe.

12/23/2025

Celebrating the Season with 31 Dog Days of December
Day 23: Give It A Label

Like yesterday's post on Narrating Life, labeling things helps your dog understand what is happening, how things work, what is safe, what is expected.

Choose an array of labels for things that you encounter on a regular basis - neighbor, truck, dog, mailman, toy, skateboard, etc.

When you are outside and your dog sees something, label it (I like using "It's just a ____________" in a soft, sing-song voice.), keep your distance (where he can remain calm) and feed treats.

When you are inside when your dog sees/hears something, label it and reward him for returning to you..

This builds positive associations with those things. Before long, your dog, who used to bark at these things, will be happily looking at your for a reward when he sees/hears it.

This big scary-looking thing is a 'dog'? I saw a dog yesterday too and it was no big deal - AND mom gave me treats. Oh, Okay, I know what this means. Woo hoo, treat time!

That's a neighbor making all that noise outside? I heard on a neighbor this morning too. If I run to dad, I get a treat!

Whether you have concerns about aggressive behavior, are struggling with puppy issues, need advice on how to help your fearful dog or just want to set your dog or puppy up for success, I am here to help. Contact me today at [email protected] or visit my website at https://www.crimsonhound.com .