Dog Training Newbie

13/11/2024

Don't miss our guest post over on Wonderful Whippets!

Leash training a Whippet can seem daunting. The right training plan will help condition your whippet to walk with a loose leash.

31/10/2024

Have you made enrichment toys to keep your dog engaged during all the excitement of Halloween?

All of the unique costumes and trick or treating is fun for kids, but can be stressful for your dogs. So, make sure to get those enrichment toys ready now. Put them in the freezer so it takes longer for your dog to get everything out.

Here are some easy filling ideas:

Copilot
Sent by Copilot:
Sure! Here are some easy and tasty Kong fillings for your dog:

Peanut Butter: Just make sure it’s xylitol-free.
Yogurt: Plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt is a great option.
Mashed Banana: Sweet and healthy.
Pumpkin Puree: Great for digestion.
Cottage Cheese: Low-fat and packed with protein.
Apple Slices: Crunchy and refreshing.
Carrot Sticks: A crunchy, low-calorie option.
Cooked Sweet Potato: Soft and nutritious.
Blueberries: Small and antioxidant rich.
Kibble with a Twist: Mix their regular kibble with a bit of wet food or broth.

30/10/2024

In honor of National Treat Your Pets Day our friends at Fear Free Happy Homes offer a list of some of their treat recommendations!

30/10/2024

Today is National Treat Your Dog Day!

Today is all about celebrating our furry friends and showing them just how much we love them! 🐶❤️ Whether it’s a tasty treat, a new toy, or an extra-long walk, let’s make this day special for our loyal companions.

At DogTrainingNewbie.com, we believe every day is a good day to spoil your pup, but today is the perfect excuse treat our dogs!

Because we love to treat our dogs a lot, how can we be sure to indulge them, and keep them healthy? Check out our article on making the best treats for your dog:

https://dogtrainingnewbie.com/best-organic-dog-training-treats/

Share with us what your dog's favorite treats are!

23/10/2024

If your dog is sensitive, Halloween might be a nightmare.

This is your reminder that if your dog is on meds for anxiety or fear, make sure to refill now!

Halloween is not the day to try to socialize your dog to new people. If the strange costumes and excited behavior of kids eating candy is too much, it can create fears or make existing fears more severe.

The goal will be to minimize your dog's fear. Pick a calm space for your dog and get them used to relaxing in that area now. Play calming music. Music with a slower beat appears to soothe many dogs, while masking some of the noise outside.

22/10/2024

Today is National Make a Dog's Day!

Subaru and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) created National Make a Dog's Day in 2015.

How can you make a dog's day?

- Spend some extra time with your dog! What is their favorite activity? Walks? Cuddles? A chew treat? Take extra time to pause and connect with your dogs.

- Don't have a dog? Check with your local shelter to see if you can take one of their dogs on a walk or give them an extra play session.

- Clean out your house and donate old blankets and towels to your local shelter.

- Consider adopting a dog!

- Follow a local rescue. Like and share their posts! Each interaction with their posts helps get more eyes on these posts. This simple task can go a long way in helping to finds homes!

-Struggling with your dog? Spend some time reading some of our training articles at www.dogtrainingnewbie.com for guidance that can improve your relationship.

21/10/2024

Do you camp with your dog? Share your favorite tip!

If you'd like to try camping, check out our Camping With Dogs Guide!

https://dogtrainingnewbie.com/camping-with-dogs/

Camping with dogs can be a lot of fun! But camping with pets also comes with its own set of hazards, so here are some ways you can be prepared.

14/10/2024

Do you want your dog to wear a Halloween costume?

Not all dogs are comfortable wearing clothes. Follow these steps to help condition your dog to wearing a costume, but always prioritize your dog's emotions over a costume. If your dog seems stressed while going through this training, why not just have them wear a cute bandana?

Here is how to introduce a costume:

Keep training sessions short (2-3 minutes) and increase duration as your dog is having fun earning treats!

Day 1-2: Let your dog sniff and explore the costume. Reward with treats and praise.

Day 3-4: Drape the costume over your dog without fastening it and treat.

Day 5-7: Start fastening parts of the costume, treat your dog then remove the costume. Gradually build up the time your dog wears the costume.

After the first week, try putting your dog's costume on for mealtimes (to make positive associations). If your dog won't eat, that lets you know they are uncomfortable. Go back to the week 1 exercises.

Try putting the costume on and play your dog's favorite game. This adds additional positive reinforcement and gets your dog used to moving with something foreign on their body. If your dog is not interested in playing, the costume may be adding some stress. Go back to the week 1 exercises.

Lastly, take a short walk. As you walk, throw treats in the grass for your dog to sniff out. Again, more positive associations for walking around in a costume!

Most importantly have fun!

07/10/2024

Happy National Frappe Day!

Make a dog friendly version for your pup to celebrate. This fun treat is cute, looks great on social media and offers the following benefits:

Goat's milk is highly digestible and contains probiotics and enzymes that can be beneficial for your dog's immune system, skin and coat.

Strawberries offer vitamin C and antioxidants (you can also swap out your favorite dog-safe fruit in this recipe)

Greek yogurt offers more protein and less lactose than other types of yogurts making it easier to digest.

If these foods are new to your dog, offer a small amount at first to make sure it doesn't cause any gastrointestinal upset.

05/10/2024

The first Saturday of every months is

Share pictures of your dog playing outside, and tell us what their favorite outdoor activity is!

04/10/2024

Apples make a great treat you can share with your dog! Here are some of the benefits:

Vitamins: Apples are packed with vitamins A, C, and K, which help boost your dog’s immune system and keep their skin and coat healthy.

High in Fiber: The fiber in apples aids digestion.

Low-Calorie Snack: Apples are low-calorie, yet filling!

Dental Health: Chewing on apple can help clean your dog’s teeth and freshen their breath.



Remember: Always remove the seeds and core before giving apples to your dog.

02/10/2024

Have some fall fun with your pup by playing some pumpkin games!

Letting your dog interact with new objects, like pumpkins (both fake and real) offers new smells and textures, which is great environmental enrichment!

Also, when you play these games, you get to know what your dog finds most enriching! These games can involve into exploring dog sports such as agility, dog parkour, and nosework!

30/09/2024

Welcome to season!!

Making a dog-friendly Pumpkin Pup Cup isn't just a fun fall treat, it offers a lot of nutritional benefits for your dog including:

Fiber: Pumpkin is an excellent source of dietary fiber

Vitamins: It contains high levels of vitamins A, C, and E

Minerals: Pumpkin is packed with important minerals like potassium and iron

Pumpkin is also low in calories and has a high water content!

If these ingredients are new to your dog, offer a small amount at first, to make sure it doesn't cause any digestive system distress. This treat can be kept in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

29/09/2024

Tricks? Or Treats?

Finding the right motivation for your dog when training can impact your success! How do you choose the right treat? Check out our post "How to Choose the Best Natural and Organic Dog Training Treats"

https://dogtrainingnewbie.com/best-organic-dog-training-treats/

28/09/2024

If you have a dog that doesn't leave your home, no matter what the reason, we can bring home smells for them.

Smelling helps dogs gather information about the surroundings where you were. It is like letting them see the world through their nose.

Sniffing cis a calming activity for dogs. It helps reduce stress and provides mental stimulation, which is essential for their overall well-being.

This is a great way to bring the world to our dogs!

27/09/2024

Enrichment is vital for your dog's mental and physical health. But it doesn't always have to mean buying the latest and greatest enrichment toys.

The environment provides many opportunities to enrich our dog's lives! Take advantage of all those leaves falling off the trees to create a wonderful sniffing game for your dog! By feeding their meals like this a few times a week, your dog is getting more mileage out of their mealtime.

Be sure to start with step one so your dog understands the game. The goal is to make it fun and not frustrating, so if your dog has a hard time finding the food, make it a little easier until your dog catches on.

25/09/2024

Happy Fall
What is your dog's favorite activity? Do they like searching through leaves? Or maybe just chasing the leaves as they fly through the air? Do they go apple picking with you? Or maybe they prefer to hike in the cooler fall air?

26/08/2024

Happy National Dog Day!

Celebrate your furry best friend with a treat tail that leads him to his grand prize! his favorite chew treat.

This simple activity adds physical and olfactory enrichment, while not adding many additional calories.

Let us know what you're going to celebrate your dog today (or any day!)