Walks-and-Wags Dog Training

25/08/2020

Congrats to tonight's Basic Manners grads! Photos from last week since we did an online class tonight. I had a terrific time with these people & dogs....an amazing group of teams! Congrats to Charlie, Jazzy, Pearl, Sisko, Snow & their handlers!🎉🏆

25/08/2020

Management of a dog's environment is absolutely the best way to help your dog so he's unable to practice the behavior you're trying to change! Management works for counter surfing, nipping, jumping, inappropriate chewing & so much more. Use management while you're teaching your dog to choose new, positive behaviors.

How have you used management to help your dog be successful?

18/08/2020

We talked about the concept of the "extinction burst" in puppy class last night! Have you been diligent about working with your dog to change an undesirable behavior (like jumping, nipping, barking?) Have you been managing well, proactively redirecting, ignoring, teaching other non-compatible positive behaviors? Is your dog's undesirable behavior getting worse?

That's actually a sign that you may be making progress! An extinction burst is when a dog works harder at the undesirable behavior when you're working on it because what he's done in the past has always worked for him before! Now, you're responding differently, so he's going to try harder to get the same response he's gotten in the past. STICK IN THERE! The escalation in behavior may mean that the behavior is coming to an end.....don't give up!

Have you ever experienced an extinction burst with a dog in the past? Feel free to share your story!

18/08/2020

This terrific group will graduate next week, but we'll be doing an online class, so today was our last photo op. This group has come a long way since the first class....the handlers definitely practiced during the week. Congrats to their handlers & Barkely, Kali, Miley, Milley, Milo &lovely Miss Polly!🎉🎉

18/08/2020

Always bittersweet for a Puppy Kindergarten class to graduate & that is still true with this group. This was such a very nice group of courteous people & terrific pups! Congrats to the handlers and Bruin, Choco, Cooper, Cooper, Finbar, Millie, and Piper (the loads of zest for life pup). I had such a great time with all of you!🎉

17/08/2020

Hi everyone! Does anyone local have need for an almost full 5 gallon bucket of Merrick's Grain Free Puppy Food? A local person bought it by mistake & wants to pass it along to anyone in need. (It cannot be donated to local animal organizations because it is opened & not in it's original container.)

If interested, feel free to comment below & I'll connect you! (Photo for effect only!)

06/08/2020

Last classes today with these great teams. I've enjoyed these people & dogs so much & hope they got some fun ways to stay active at home! Great job Bailey, Brody, C**t, Cooper, Izzie, Koda, Millie, Rosie, Scout & their handlers!🎉🐕🥇

03/08/2020

The best defense for counter & table surfing is a proactive offense! Make it impossible for your dog to fail right from the start! Keep your counters/table tops clear of temptations, keep your dog out of the kitchen, never give your dog food in the kitchen or from the counters or table!

All it takes is one time for your dog to get a tasty morsel from your counters or table to create a habit. I always tell the story of how one day I was running & saw a bill on the side of the road. I thought "bonus - I find a dollar on my run!". You can imagine my surprise when it was a $20!!!! Now, EVERY.SINGLE.TIME I run by that point, I look, hoping to find another $20! This is what happens to your dog if they are reinforced (get something yummy) by counter surfing. They will check again & again to see what's there!

Proactive management is absolutely the best way to help your dog not get to counter or table surf!

https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/training/counter-productive-how-to-keep-your-dog-from-stealing-unattended-food-and-other-edible-items/?MailingID=693-A&st=email&sc=WIR20200802-StopJumpingA&utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Stop+Your+Dog+s+Counter-Surfing+In+Its+Tracks&utm_campaign=WIR20200802-StopJumping

One of the hardest canine behaviors for some dog owners to understand (or forgive) is counter-surfing – when your dog helps himself to some edible item that you or another household human left unattended. The behavior isn’t just limited to counters; some dogs help themselves to any food left on ...

30/07/2020

One of my favorite reminders....what fills your dog's emotional cup?

30/07/2020

Lots 'o nicely tired dogs at the end of Fit Dog classes today! These teams are a joy! Added a couple pictures of our Jed, who "helps" me with cleanup.

28/07/2020

So impressed with these teams today as we worked on impulse control & other exercises. Great job Fin, Jazzy, Pearl, Sisko, lovely miss Snow & their handlers. Having a great time with you🐕

28/07/2020

For the puppy clients out there --- hang in there! Persistence & consistency are key!

https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/behavior/4-puppy-biting-survival-strategies/?utm_content=buffere63df&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer&fbclid=IwAR0hXopJfa35iZcB-nEKE5vcf1BjPJkuQYLmi7Mr4Y3Ab-a0JosEQY0txeI

Puppies! Who doesn’t love ’em? They’re cute, cuddly, and silly. They look like little angels when they sleep, which is often. When they’re awake, they spend all their time exploring and learning about the world around them. We marvel at their curiosity and playfulness – until we experience...

28/07/2020

Welcome to our new Basic Manners class. I was seriously impressed with how well these handlers did with all adolescent dogs. Great job by a super nice group of people & dogs! Welcome Barkley, Kali, Miley, Millie, Milo, and Polly!

24/07/2020

Here's one of my favorite visuals & we talk about & apply these concepts in class all the time! Distance, duration & distractions always make things harder or easier for your dog. The concept & factor work every time! How have you used these factors to help your dog be successful?

22/07/2020

Wow! Two Fit Dog classes with such great teams working together tonight. Thank you also for being respectful with social distancing while having some fun with your dogs! (Some photos are missing, but......)Welcome Bailey, Bella, Brody, C**t, Cooper, Izzie, Koda, Luna, Millie, Rosie, Scout, Violet!

21/07/2020

Always bittersweet for me to graduate a Puppy Kindergarten class! What a great group of people & pups this is. Congrats Augie, Luna, Mojo, Rhona, Ruby and their handlers! Really great job by everyone!🎉

20/07/2020

A sweet "goodbye" to this group of Puppy Kindergarten grads! Congrats to Frankie, Griffin, Leo, Norris, Taco and their handlers. I had such a fun time with all of you!🎉🏅

20/07/2020

Welcome to our new Puppy Kindergarten teams! What a nice group of people & pups...I think we'll have a great time together. Welcome Bruin, Choco, Cooper, Cooper (yes, 2 of them!), Finbar, Millie, and Piper!

16/07/2020

This sweet girl graduated Basic Manners this week. Meet Allie! Allie & her mom are an example of a team that has worked at home on what they've learned in class. As a result, we've seen really positive changes in Allie's behavior. Kudos to Allie's mom for a job very well done!🎉

15/07/2020

Congrats to our Big 3 class grads, where we focus on coming when called, leash walking, and no jumping. Each team really made some great improvements...very proud of each of team! Great job Lexi, Maisy, Phoebe & their handlers.🎉

14/07/2020

Congratulations to sweet Bear, who got his Intermediate Trick Title today! Bear achieved his Novice level recently. Here he is ringing a bell, which is one of the tricks that got him his award today. Great job to Bear & his mom!

14/07/2020

Great tips! Dogs don't "not listen" out of spite, stubbornness, or to show dominance. It's almost always due to one of these things. Consider how you can adjust these factors to help your dog be successful!

13/07/2020

Congratulations to Charlie, Koda & their handlers for earning their AKC Novice Trick titles today! These 2 did a great job in a pre-COVID tricks class & we finally got together for the test. Super proud of each of these terrific teams🎉🏅

11/07/2020

Fit Dog classes are a fun way to learn some new enrichment & exercise activities for your dog. We do easy agility, parkour, tricks, and nosework....different combinations depending on the dogs who are attending.

This class runs for 3 sessions, is held outdoors, and cost is $69. Come have some fun with your dog & other nice teams! I've just added a class to start on Wed, 7/22 at 4:30 pm with openings. Register & pay conveniently online at https://marlenelayman.com/group-training/

07/07/2020

Super nice group in Puppy Kindergarten. Here's Augie, Luna, Mojo, Rhona & Ruby! These handlers are really engaged & doing a terrific job with their pups!

07/07/2020

Such a nice time with these sweet teams in our Fit Dog class. I love how every handler allowed their dog to go at his own pace & decide what he liked to do. Great work on attention & focus as well. Go Bailey, Bear, Kismet & Rosie!

02/07/2020

Interested in getting your dog comfortable wearing a muzzle? Here are some reasons to do so! Consider my 2 session online Intro to Muzzle Fitting & Desensitization Workshop. We're starting on Wed, 7/8 at noon!

Register at www.marlenelayman.com/group-training/ if interested!

30/06/2020

It was so nice to work with these terrific patient handlers & their dogs in Fit Dog class. It's interesting to see what each dog enjoys & how confidence grows with each class. Thank you Charlie, Rufus & Tulip (and we missed Enzo & Gypsy🙂).

Fit Dog will start again on Wed, 7/22 - 1 class starts at noon & another at 6 p.m. If interested, you can register at this link: www.marlenelayman.com/group-training

26/06/2020

Happy Friday!

26/06/2020

I very often hear "I can't believe my dog bit....his tail was wagging"! This is SO true.....look at a dog's whole body to see how he's feeling. Use the BEET method - Body, Eyes, Ears, Tail. Tail is one component & a wag is definitely not always a sign of happiness.

25/06/2020

25/06/2020

Boy did these teams work tonight! We're in our Big 3 workshop & spent a lot of time on leash walking & a little time on coming when called tonight. Each team showed improvement...super proud of them! Great job to Lexi, Maisy, Phoebe & their handlers!

23/06/2020

What a busy day it was for classes today - here's one of my favorite small dogs ever - meet Charlie!!! Charlie is a super fun dog who loves to do tricks & agility-like activities. He came to Fit Dog class this morning & sacked out after class. I'm hoping to sleep as well as Charlie tonight!

23/06/2020

Congrats to sweet Bear, who earned his Novice Trick Title today! Here he is showing a "hold" with his newly awarded ribbon. Great job to Bear & his mom!🎉

23/06/2020

Welcome to our new Puppy Kindergarten class! Super nice job for a first class with Augie, Luna, Mojo, Rhona, Ruby & their handlers! Looking forward to future weeks with this group!

23/06/2020

What are some reasons to teach your dog to wear a muzzle? If you have an aggressive dog, teaching him to wear it to keep everyone safe is really important (this should absolutely be combined with a behavior modification plan!).

Other reasons that we might not consider are:
1) Keeping your dog safe from eating yucky stuff - p**p, scraps on a walk, etc.
2) Helping him & those who are handling him to be safe at the vet.
3) For high prey-drive dogs, it can help to keep them from catching/harming prey.

Want some help with which muzzle to buy, how to size it for your dog, and how to help him learn to enjoy wearing it? I'm offering a 2-session online workshop ($25) starting Wed, 7/8 at noon where we'll work on sizing & desensitizing your dog to his muzzle. Working on this in your home will be great to help your dog learn in a non-distracting, no-stress environment.

Interested? Feel free to register & pay using this link & I'll send details as we get closer!https://marlenelayman.com/group-training/

20/06/2020

Cuteness for the day! Meet Wilfred...he is not a client, but actually our "nephew" who lives on the West Coast with his dad. We've never met him in person, but understand he's a very good boy. Wilfred is a young Bull Mastiff pup!

19/06/2020

For the new puppy parents out there - keeping your pup's exercise activities fun, but low impact, is really important for proper skeletal progress. A young pup's growth plates aren't closed yet, so any jarring activity may cause challenges to that process. Significant running (like going on a jarring run with you), jumping off something high, etc. should be tabled until your pup is a little older. Keep activities low impact for a while!

Any vets or vet techs out there? What are your thoughts?

18/06/2020

Baxter & Alfie said, "Hey, why is there an umbrella in our Puppy Kindergarten class?" These two are a cute little pair!

18/06/2020

This is a great thing to keep in mind for those of you who have a recently rescued dog. While the "rule of 3" is a general guideline for what to expect, it's usually quite accurate for most dogs. Give your rescue some time to adjust....they have just started a whole new life with all new things, some of which they may have never experienced before!