Pupstart, LLC

02/05/2024

Informative article on dog body language!

From squinting to staring, dog facial expressions convey very strong messages. Here’s what your pup is trying to tell you.

18/04/2024

Excellent training clip from Tab Shamsi of "Training Positive," his DIY dog training YouTube channel. Highly recommend him!

Are you looking for a way to train your dog to close the door for you? Check out this amazing trick! In just a few minutes, your dog will be able to close th...

04/04/2024

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Friyay!!! Have a great weekend! 🐾❤️

25/02/2024

Steve Dale writes about outcomes for puppies in classes where aversive training methods were used versus positive reinforcement training.

Dr. Theresa Deporter, a veterinary behaviorist, did this study. She partnered up with the trainer that was formerly using aversive methods, and showed them how to use positive reinforcement instead.

Then she followed outcomes for THOSE puppies. This is the kind of data we need! Link to study is in the Comments.

h/t to Stacy's Wag'N'Train for this link.

The science supporting positive-reinforcement dog training is abundant. It's more effective and more humane than force-training. Here's why.

20/02/2024

Here's a welcome update on the canine respiratory illness.

Cases have been reported in Oregon, Colorado, Indiana, Illinois, Washington, Idaho, California and more.

20/02/2023

Please come to the Pupstart Dog Behavior Consulting Group page.

08/10/2022

I'm a dog behavior consultant; watch out for people who call themselves "behavioralists" or "behaviorists."

When trying to find the right dog professional to meet your needs, all of the titles thrown around can be confusing. Here is a run down of…

08/01/2022

08/01/2022

I receive a lot of questions about dog daycares and dog parks. I like this article about dog daycare and how not all dogs always enjoy the company of other dogs throughout their lives. The video within the article is definitely worth a watch, too! Feel free to share anything on this page!

Not all dogs are daycare dogs. Although many dogs can thrive in a doggy daycare environment, it isn’t right for every dog.

12/08/2021

Some dog problems don't have an obvious solution. What problem do you face with your dog that has you stumped? It's my job to think "outside the box" like this art teacher!

05/08/2021

05/06/2021

Have a dog problem? Got a new puppy and feeling overwhelmed?

Do you find all the well-meaning, conflicting advice from friends, family, books, TV shows, and the Internet confusing? Are you wondering who you can trust?

Pupstart's owner has been certified by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers since 2001 and is also an Associate Certified Dog Behavior Consultant with the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. (She's fully vaccinated, too.)

When you work with her, you'll receive the most up-to-date guidance from a professional with over two decades of experience training family dogs of all ages and breeds. Click below to contact Pupstart!

Pupstart is booking now for July and August for in-home New Puppy Visits, puppy training, and behavior consults for dogs of all ages within 40 miles of the Des Moines, Iowa, metro area. In addition, training packages for in-home sessions are available.

Expert assistance for all things PUPPY is here! Not sure the best place to purchase a purebred dog or adopt a new puppy? Want to get your home set up and gather all the needed supplies ahead of time? Has the reality of what a boatload of work the new puppy is? Can't get that pup potty trained? You need Pupstart!

NOW AVAILABLE - Remote consults. Pupstart can help you select a dog, prepare for your new puppy, or assist with behavior issues with dogs of any age using your phone, laptop, or tablet, no matter where you live. All you need is a camera and a microphone on your device. You'll be pleasantly surprised by the reasonable cost!

Get in-home dog training and puppy training as well as remote consulting for problem behavior. Contact Pupstart: 515.277.8779.

29/05/2021

Top tips on pandemic puppies from REAL experts!

Common questions about caring for puppies, answered by the experts.

14/05/2021

Spread the word!

$25 SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES FOR CATS! If you need to get your cat spayed/neutered and you live in the city of Des Moines, we have openings now for low-cost spay/neuter surgeries for cats … and NEXT WEEK ONLY the surgeries are just $25/cat (half of the usual fee).

Each appointment includes spay/neuter and basic vaccinations with the option of a microchip. Go to http://ow.ly/fo5t50EFGud now to see if you qualify and to apply.

Spread the word!

07/11/2020

10 Things Your Dog Wishes You Knew. Chirag Patel

Pupstart is now available for Zoom and phone consults. I'm booked up until the first of next year for in-home instruction. To meet the current client load needs, I cannot take on more in-home clients. So many people acquired puppies or adopted dogs during the pandemic. With pet parents at home now, there's even more urgency to address behavior problems popping up. I promise if you need help, I am committed to working through this via Zoom or on the phone. This is very effective; we can see each other, and I can coach you in real-time.

Chirag Patel gives a presentation on 10 things he believes our dogs wished we knew at an event organised by the BCSPCA in Vancouver, Canada.

23/06/2020

It's not too soon to prepare your dog for the 4th of July. (Here in Des Moines, Iowa, people are not following the ordinance too well.) Your veterinarian is your go-to if your dog is terrified or panicked during storms or fireworks.

Fireworks can be scary for your dog - but they don't have to be! Read about what you can do to prepare your dog for July fourth and the fireworks, keep them from escaping and become lost or missing, plus more Independence Day prep and safety tips!

22/06/2020

Have a dog problem?

Do you find all the well-meaning, conflicting advice from friends, family, books, TV shows, and the Internet confusing? Are you wondering who you can trust?

Live virtual consults are available no matter where you live. Learn how to train your puppy or dog in the comfort of your home or find the help you need for behavior issues from your phone, laptop, or tablet. All you need is a camera and a microphone on your device. To help you during the pandemic, the cost is super-reasonable, too!

Pupstart's owner is Dana Fedman. She's certified by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers and is an Associate Certified Dog Behavior Consultant with the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants.

When you work with her, you'll receive the most up-to-date guidance from a professional with over two decades of experience training family dogs of all ages and breeds. Click below to contact Pupstart!

22/06/2020

Phone and Zoom consults are effective for dog problems! Dogs of all ages and breeds welcome.

Have a dog problem? Do you find all the well-meaning, conflicting advice from friends, family, and the Internet confusing? Are you wondering who you can trust? Live Zoom or phone consults are available to troubleshoot and advise you on resolving dog behavior issues. The cost is reasonable! It doesn'...

31/05/2020

Did you know that - without meaning to - you could be making your dog's threatening or aggressive behavior worse?

Here are some beginning tips to help. For more in-depth assistance to turn that around, contact Pupstart.

I threw this short list together based on the recent string of cases that I have been working over the last few months where these factors were involved. These are all very common contributing factors that can set dogs up for failure or result in an aggressive response.

So what can pet owners do instead?!

1. Don’t take a puppy who is fearful or shy around other dogs to the dog park. It’s kind of like taking a shy librarian to a biker bar. An alternative would be to pair the dog with suitable, social playmates that can gently bring out play (preferably under the guidance of a professional and preferably one-on-one).

2. Don’t chase a dog who just stole something. Doing so can inadvertently “add value” to the item, and cause the dog to use aggression to “keep the highly coveted object.” Swiping the object out of the dog’s mouth and punishing them can make them more defensive. Instead, manage the items so the dog can’t practice stealing them; teach the dog to bring those items to you for tasty treats (retrieve) in the event they get a hold of them; and teach the dog to voluntarily leave the items alone in the first place. If they get a hold of something dangerous (pill bottle, kitchen knife, your Uncle’s pot brownies), then it’s understandable to dive in and risk getting bitten. But if you do preventative training, you significantly reduce the potential for a bite.

3. Tight leashes are awfully restrictive. They can add frustration, remove flight options, and create confrontational body postures. While I’m not a fan of on-leash greetings, they will happen in life, so keeping the leash loose (and the greetings really short) will help to prevent problems from occurring.

4. The last time the waiter tried to take my plate away when there were a few fries still left on it, I almost took his hand off. Taking a dog’s food or toys away while they are enjoying them is quite similar. Instead, dropping higher value treats nearby on occasion will work in the same fashion as the waiter popping the hot fudge sundae right next to my plate of fries.

5. Guess who gets bitten the most? That’s right - kids! Kids can do awfully weird things to dogs sometimes, so it is vital we supervise them and teach them how to properly interact with dogs. FamilyPaws.com, LivingWithKidsAndDogs.com, and The FamilyDog.com all are chock full of information on how to keep kids safe!

DISCLAIMER: If your dog is already displaying aggressive behaviors in these contexts, seek out the guidance of a professional who is experienced in aggression cases using positive reinforcement, desensitization and counterconditioning, or differential reinforcement. (Those are the keywords you can use to look for the right pro!)

23/05/2020

Emphasizing the positive since 1998!

Dogs trained with aversive methods are less likely to show a ‘secure base’ effect.

15/05/2020

Have a dog problem? Do you find all the well-meaning, conflicting advice from friends, family, and the Internet confusing? Are you wondering who you can trust? Live Zoom or phone consults are available to troubleshoot and advise you on resolving dog behavior issues. The cost is reasonable! It doesn'...

01/03/2020

There are a lot of dog trainers. They all use different tools and they view dogs differently.

There's an old saying that goes, "The only thing two dog trainers can agree on is that the third one is wrong." I don't like that saying because there are many ways to train dogs that are not "wrong" or bad. I am absolutely comfortable referring you to trainers who have the best skillsets, pricing, or business models to meet your individual needs if I'm not the best match.

Unfortunately, there are also too many trainers in our area who rely heavily on out-dated dominance theory and unnecessarily harsh attitudes, methods, and tools.

These trainers are not committed to updating their knowledge about our dogs, modern training methods, new approaches to improving or - when possible - *resolving* behavior problems.

They may also lack enough experience to correctly identify the best solutions for YOUR family's situation and your individual dog(s.)

If you are looking for a trainer who is kind to both ends of the leash, has over two decades of education and experience, and whose approach will resonate with you and your canine family member, please check out Pupstart.

Due to Covid-19, phone and video consults are available now!

14/02/2020

You've probably heard that chocolate is bad for dogs, but did you know why?

Happy Valentine's Day! Enjoy your chocolate but keep it out of reach of your dogs!

The primary concern with chocolate is due to a chemical compound called methylxanthines. If you've ever pulled an 'all-nighter' in college or if you require a cup of coffee in the morning to ‘wake up,’ you're likely already well-acquainted with one type of methylxanthine - caffeine. The methylxa...

14/02/2020

14/02/2020

Pupstart offers in-home dog training for dogs of all ages and breeds.

Hold class with your family at your house or have Pupstart train your dog FOR you, then show you how to make the training stick.

14/02/2020

14/02/2020