Fred Zorn Dog Training

07/22/2024

A sad goodbye to a friend of mine.

05/21/2024

This ain’t about dogs but I thought animal lovers at large might find this intriguing.

04/30/2024

I don’t often ask for people to come to events. I’m asking now. I’d love to see my friends at the Green Door Studio 306 Millburn Ave, Millburn, NJ 07041 on Saturday May 4th from 6pm -9pm. This is the first art show I’ve ever been a part of and I could really use your support. If you can make it, please come. If you can’t, please don’t leave a comment saying you can’t. That will just mess me up.

03/04/2024

Spring fever is a real thing in dogs. Between breeding season, distracting smells, and the chance to shake off winter cabin fever, you may see frustrating behaviors pop up like crocuses. Call or text 347-693-3238 and we'll help get everything back on track. As always, first phone consultations are free!

01/19/2024

Socialization is essential for a healthy and balanced dog. We're talking emotionally and physically. And (as long as they've got their shots) they're never too young to start...or too old! Call or text 347-693-3238. Zander (ie., Professional First Friend) may not pick up the phone, but I always will.

10/14/2023

Does your dog ignore you when you call their name? Let's say your name was Fred. If someone tried to get your attention by calling "Fred. Fred. Fred! FRED! FREDFREDFREDFREDFREDFRED!" well....you'd probably ignore them too. Learn how to truly master "come when called" in my stop motion animation video!

Do you have trouble getting your dog to come to you when you call them? This episode is dedicated to increasing the engagement with your dog in order to get ...

10/06/2023

I'm fortunate to say that much of my business comes from word of mouth. And a real upside of that is when neighbor refers neighbor refers neighbor, you end up with an entire community of stable, well integrated dogs!

A special congrats to Undercliff Terrace in West Orange for helping to build a happy community of dogs (and dog families!) Call or text 347-693-3238 anytime, to see how we can get the ball rolling in your neck of the woods.

10/05/2023

Please vote for Zander — otherwise known as ZZ Pup — for best costume at Turtleback Zoo's Barktoberfest contest!

Vote for your favorite pet costume in this year's BARKtoberfest Pet Costume Contest!

09/25/2023

Can you get a dog to actually enjoy wearing a Halloween costume, instead of barely tolerate it? Absolutely! But it's imperative that you start slow, start well in advance, and make every step of the process as positive and rewarding as it can be.

And by the way, this doesn't just apply fun and silly "wants," like getting your pup to wear a costume. Ensuring they're comfortable with having something on their bodies is a need...whether that means wearing a sweater, a raincoat, booties, or even a surgical onesie or bandage.

Call or text Fred at 347-693-3238 to set up an in-person or Zoom training for this or any other issue you're facing with your dog. And as always, first phone consultations are free!

09/24/2023

Remember, even on rainy days, mental stimulation is just as important as physical exercise for dogs (and it will keep them from getting wound up in the house).

It's the perfect opportunity to bone up on training, whether that's rudimentary commands like stay or lie down, or more involved practices that you've been working on with your dog trainer :)

You can also set the stage for some indoor games! Set up an indoor agility course using household items like chairs, broomsticks, and boxes. Create tunnels, jumps, and weave poles for some active fun. Treat-dispensing puzzle toys are also a good way to stimulate your dog's mind and keep them occupied.

Or, you can just visit an apple orchard in the rain for fun, like me and Zander. It's easy enough to towel off after!

02/25/2022

Please take the time to read this.

I’ve seen others posting about the new Channing Tatum movie “Dog” so I wanted to put my thoughts out there. Every time a dog breed is featured in a film, there is a surge in ownership of that breed, without understanding of what that breed is. Malinois are serious dogs, and need a LOT of training. They are amazing, intelligent, driven dogs, but not for most homes. If you see the movie and think, “ it’d be really cool to have a dog like that,” just don’t. You’ll be in over your head, and with a Mal that can be dangerous. So appreciate them, read books about all the cool stuff they have done in war zones, but don’t think that translates to a dog that is content to sleep on the sofa 22 hours a day. As an example of this I present the photo of 2 kitted out special forces soldiers in training, and the most dangerous weapons these guys are carrying wear basket muzzles.

01/17/2022

A little comic strip on how to construct a training leash for indoor or outdoor use.

A couple of notes:

1. Only use cotton clothesline sizes 7/32 or larger. The bigger the dog, the thicker the line should be.

2. The faster your dog is the longer your line should be. Especially for those get away games;-)

3. For chewers, do not use bitter apple on the line as it will transfer to your hands. Instead, soak line in Listerine as this can help. However nothing works better than monitoring your dog and correcting them in the moment that they start to abuse the leash. Also play a game of tug of war with a different toy while they are first getting used to it and they won't see the leash quite as interesting to go after.

4. If you have a sewing machine you can sew the loop with a zig zag stitch. Just make sure to do quite a few passes.

5. Have fun and use common sense when using any leash remembering that the leash should not be used as a means to control your dog but rather as a means to communicate with your pup.

05/30/2021

And maybe most importantly... make sure to have fun with your dog every single day.