San Marcos Dogs in Training

03/07/2020

Want to get your dog ready for fireworks prior to the 4th?

Try this game-

Bring your dog into a room in your home with little to no distractions.
Have a bag or bowl of high value treats (the smellier and softer the better! Boiled chicken works great!)
Play firework sounds on your phone or computer on a low volume setting
If your dog will not take the treats, lower the volume - is your dog does, praise and give affection.
Repeat treating 4x then increase the volume a little.
Continue the game as directed above with increasing or decreasing volume to your dog’s response.

This will help dogs learn that thunder noises aren’t so scary. In fact they mean yummy food is on its way! 😉

14/03/2020

14/03/2020

Stuck at home with your dog?
Tune in for a free loose leash walking seminar at 2p!

27/02/2020

The flies are out! Here’s a way to keep them off your dog 🐕

Warmer weather comes with more time spent in the great outdoors, and for dog owners, it doesn't get much better than stepping outside with your canine companion. Unfortunately, flies are a reality we all have to deal with, but with just a few cheap ingredients, you can make a DIY fly spray for dogs.

14/01/2020

Playtime is training.

When training, a dog chooses to focus. We can attempt in many different ways to force the dog to focus, but these techniques can cause a dog to become reactive. Instead, encouraging the focus with play and positive attention will increase the dog’s focus with thoughtful intention. A thoughtfully focused dog is a good dog 🐕

Any dog can learn to play with toys. 🎾

If your dog isn’t sure of what to do with toys, starting the game tug is a great start.

With puppies and mouthy adults, I like to use the longest tug toy I can find. This way, I can keep the puppy focused far away from my hand and minimize accidental biting.

The key to Tug is that we actually let the dog win.

If the dog wins, he will want to continue to have the interaction and bring the toy back to you.

If the dog drops the toy, offer it back to them and praise when they take it.

To encourage the dog to continually hold the toy, you can praise, pet and smile at them.

If the dog won’t pick up the toy, toss the toy or hold it up to them, when the dog interacts with the toy, praise and offer treats.

When the dog starts tugging, praise and get excited.

When you want the dog to drop the toy for the end of the game, trade it for a treat.

Playing tug will increase your dog’s confidence and are the building blocks for teaching cues like drop it, take it, tug, and hold. These cues can be used for daily assistance like holding something for you, dropping an object you don’t want the dog to have, retrieving an object, opening doors, and helping with the laundry!

11/01/2020

Training tip:

When you begin training your dog, take them on a few short dates. These dates are 10-30 minutes long, with a focus of getting to know your dog. Figure out what they love, are afraid of, and excited for. Find out what types of treats they drool over, and toys they wag their tail for.
I like to try at least three different places, inside the house, in the neighborhood, and in a public dog friendly place.

03/01/2020

Halt, Recall and Leave it are three cues I teach every dog I own for their saftey!
What cues do you think are important for saftey with your dogs?