Rudy's Friends Dog Training, Inc

08/17/2024

Manners II -- starting Saturday 9/7 in Vienna at Wag and Wash -- Advanced Manners training leading to Canine Good Citizen (CGC) or Community Good Citizen AKC certificate. Includes work outside in the community, on leash training and advanced skills in public settings.

Basic Manners for dogs of all ages -- Classes include AKC S.T.A.R. evaluation and basic skills including walking on a leash, sit, stay, recall and more.

To register email: [email protected]

08/12/2024

Thank you Wag N Wash!

07/23/2024

TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND REACTIVITY

Before trying to work on improving reactivity, consider what colour your dog’s emotional state is in.

The belief or expectation that by continually exposing reactive dogs to triggers will make them get over it, is setting dogs up to fail.

Generally, a dog that is reacting to something does not feel safe – they are in survival mode – a mode where learning and appropriate responses simply cannot take place.

Neurotransmitters like adrenaline and cortisol flood the brain causing automatic responses intended for survival. This red zone is certainly not the time or the place to try to change behaviour.

We need to start working with a brain that is calm, relaxed, focused and feels safe – the green zone, where learning can take place.

A calm nervous system is essential to learn a new way to respond.

To recognise which colour an emotional state is, we need to become more adept at recognising and interpreting our dog’s body language.

Being aware of body language enables us to intervene before our dogs’ emotions – the “traffic light” changes colour.

Always start in the green zone, this is where we can really help our dogs to learn strategies to cope with triggers.

Keep working in the green - reinforcing, proofing and building confidence.

Once behaviours are established in the green, we can try moving into the amber zone by allowing our dogs to notice and be aware of distractions, but at a sufficient distance where they still feel safe and are able to focus. This is where we can make distractions or triggers feel far less threatening.

Stay out of the red as much as you can. Avoiding this is not always possible – life happens / the unexpected happens and we have no control over this.

In this case get as much distance as possible between your dog and the trigger.

We can’t teach our dogs to feel safe, but we can help them feel safe by managing the environment, taking small achievable steps, being aware of body language and intervening when their emotional traffic light is about to change colour.

07/05/2024

Here's one thing you can do right now to make your dog’s life even better than it already is: let them sniff! Walking your dog provides physical exercise, but letting them sniff along the way will provide your dog with mental exercise and stimulation, too. Not only is sniffing important to your dog, but it is essential for your dog’s wellbeing. Studies have also shown that olfactory stimulation lowers a dog’s heart rate and reduces stress levels. Next time you take your dog out, we encourage you to slow down and let your dog "smell the roses" and other epic scents on their walk!

Maria Scrivan

07/05/2024

Good info from the Am Kennel Club:

It's natural for dogs to defend their territory, but it's potentially dangerous. Learn to recognize territorial aggression and what you can do about it.

06/16/2024

Vacuum cleaners are one of many sounds dogs hate. Lightning is another. Desensitizing dogs to these sounds can help lower their stress.

06/14/2024

So true!

What you allow, you train. Let that sink in. 😊

06/09/2024

Great advice!

There is always time to train the dog.

Too often people believe it is an "all or nothing" approach to training. They are under the false impression that if they don't have 20-30 minutes of concentrated time to devote to training, they may as well not do it at all that day.

If that were the case, my dog would rarely get trained! 😅

Certainly if you have 20 - 30 minutes and can do that once or twice a day, that is FANTASTIC!! but if you don't have that much time available, make the most of the time you do have.

The key is to integrate training into your daily routine rather than making it a line item on your to-do list.

Have the dog wait every time you open the kennel dog so they learn not to charge out. And then have him/her sit every time you put the leash on and as you open the door to head outside together.

Practice a few doggie push-ups (Sit-Down-Sit-Down) while your waiting for the coffee to brew. And then make the pup remain on their place while you prep their breakfast.

Start your walk with a few minutes of heel, then allow the sniffari if you want to, but finish that final block to the house with the heel command again.

Have your dog remain on their Place or hold a Down while you eat dinner. And practice the off/leave it command when you load the dishwasher (unless you appreciate the dog doing the dish scrapping for you!)

You have to take care of the dog, which means there is always time to Train.

Change your thinking, then change the routine and pretty soon you will have changed your dog's behavior for the better.

No more excuses.

05/20/2024

Buddy had lots of training opportunities in our local hardware store. We walked the isles, stopped and waited at the end of each and he responded well.
Customers took pictures and gave him treats.
Fun for everyone!

05/19/2024

May be helpful 😍

🤧 Your dog’s immune response can react to harmless substances like pollen, dust or certain foods.

This is because your dog’s immune system produces histamines. This is the body’s way of raising a warning flag that there’s a problem. Antihistamines can counteract the effects of histamine and slow the allergic reaction.

You’ll find these natural antihistamines above at health food stores.

Instead of reaching for medications like Benadryl, which you shouldn’t give to dogs, these foods are natural antihistamines that block histamines to bring down the itch. Start with a pinch or a few leaves and add more until you see it's helping.

✅ Anti-Histamine Foods
* Red and green bell peppers
* Oranges, grapefruit
* Kiwi
* Apples with skin
* Pineapple
* Broccoli, Brussels sprouts
* Strawberries
* Eggs
* Basil, oregano, thyme, dill, cilantro and parsley
* Garlic

✅ You can also include low histamine foods in your dog’s diet. These include:
* Blueberries, apricots, cranberries, mango, peaches.
* Asparagus, squash, cucumbers, beets.
* Eggs
* Fresh meat, poultry and fish

🚫 Avoid feeding these high histamine foods:
* Eggplant, avocado, tomatoes, olives, beans.
* Cheese, yogurt, processed cheese.
* Canned, smoked, dried meats/fish.
* Wheat flour
* Fermented foods including kombucha, sauerkraut, kimchi

👉 Click here to read more:
https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/natures-benadryl-quercetin/

05/11/2024

Pups working on focus and paying attention to their owners during class at Wag n Wash.

05/08/2024

Stella, about 10 weeks old, is doing so well learning to sit on command.

05/08/2024

This is Haru, a 6 month old dachshund. She’s posing for her graduation picture from Basic Manners class at Wag n Wash.

05/07/2024

Our Basic Manners class at Wag n Wash in Vienna:

This is Zoey. She was working on drop it and sitting nicely for pictures. She’s a 7 mo old Aussie labradoodle.

05/05/2024

Classes forming at Vienna Pet Spaw for Basic Training for dogs of all ages. Last class includes the AKC STAR certification testing for Basic Manners. Classes start on Monday, May 20th at 6 pm. For more information or to register email: [email protected]

05/04/2024

Lincoln, 6 months old, is doing so well in his Basic Manners class at Wag n Wash in Vienna. It’s so hard to be calm around new people and their dogs.

04/21/2024

Ricky, 8 month old French bulldog, learning sit. Lee-Ann makes it so easy with her private in-home training!

04/20/2024

Auggie, 5 month old Coton de Tulear, is learning sit.

04/19/2024

Grizzly, 4 month old mini Bernadoodle, practicing stay during his private training session.

04/15/2024

Bear, 5 mo Australian Cattle dog mix, has completed his in home training with Lee-Ann. She makes it easy and so much fun!

04/13/2024

Lee-Ann is having a fun weekend with her clients.

Rhonda, 5 mo Bernadoodle is finishing up her training this weekend

04/12/2024

Cami and Milo boxer/pit mix and Finn Australian Shepherd are finishing up their family in home training this weekend.

04/07/2024

Basic Manners for Dogs of All Ages at Vienna Pet Spaw starting Monday, May 6th at 6 pm. Class covers basic commands including sit, stay, down, recall and more ... last class includes AKC S.T.A.R. testing. To learn more and register please email: [email protected]

04/05/2024

Teaching your dog good leash manners means reinforcing good behaviors, and practicing this reinforcement on every walk.

03/30/2024

How to solve the mystery of why your previously potty trained dog has regressed and is now “going” in the house.

03/28/2024

Now you know. Please be careful!

Some types of blue green algae can be toxic to dogs in tiny amounts with symptoms appearing and progressing quickly.

03/28/2024

In April -- Basic Manners Classes for dogs of all ages scheduled in Vienna, VA – Small group classes forming now – Saturday classes starting 4/6 at 9 am and 10 am. Email [email protected] for registration information.
Class details at www.RudysFriendsDogTraining.com

Private in home training in Northern Virginia available too.

03/23/2024

May be helpful!

Tips for helping your insecure, fearful, or so-called “submissive” dog gain confidence to improve the quality of her life.