Oh My Dog!

12/08/2024

Super helpful post alert! 🐶 I've wanted to pull together a list of my favorite positive reinforcement dog training tools for ages. I envisioned an easy, clickable list, but as I'm prone to doing... it turned into a 2000-word essay. 🤦‍♀️

So, here ya go: an easy, clickable, extremely long list of all the tools I do (and do NOT) recommend for +R dog training!

There are more positive reinforcement dog training tools than dogs in the world. What do you need and what can you skip? Here's the scoop:

01/08/2024

Do you have one??

16/07/2024

OK, y'all. Since we're all animal people here and it is Prime Day, I was really hoping the Dyson cordless animal vac would be reasonably priced, but... it's still too rich for my blood. 😆 SO! Here's my question, and be honest: Do any of you use a robot vacuum? The affiliate link I'm sharing here seems like a low-low price, but does it work for fur? That has always been my resistance to a robot vacuum. It seems too good to be true to keep pet hair clean, but I don't know what I don't know... What do you guys think? https://amzn.to/4dlZXb5

(BTW, I have some time set aside later to look for good pet gear deals. Anything you're looking for? Or anything you've found?)

RoboVac 11S MAX The Super-Slim and Powerful RoboVac

14/07/2024

There's a park near us that almost never has other hikers. It's beautiful and quiet, so I thought today would be the perfect day to test a long-line with Penny as we walked the trails and played along the water. It worked pretty well! What did you and your dogs get up to this weekend?

11/07/2024

I got to chat all things Penny with my good friend Fidose of Reality on her YouTube channel! Check it out, and let me know if I missed answering any questions YOU might have:

Perfectly imperfect dogs turn out to be some of the most amazing dogs in the world. Just ask Oh My Dog! Blog founder, author, and dog mama, Maggie Marton.Mag...

09/07/2024

"Clicker training" is a phrase often used interchangeably with "positive reinforcement," but... using a clicker is only one possible way to mark behavior. Here are a few more ways to consider:

02/07/2024

Last night, someone on my area's Next Door posted an apology for all the years when he shot fireworks from his driveway before the Fourth. "This is the first year I've had a dog and he is terrified." Then, he asked for advice. I shared this post and wanted to pass it along here, too, because it's pretty useful for the week ahead.

That said, may the odds be ever in your dog's favor this week...

Fireworks, picnics and other 4th of July traditions can be great fun for people, but frightening and dangerous for animals. Know how to keep your animals safe.

28/06/2024

Hi, friends! I'm Maggie, and this is Penny. It's been a long time since I've been on FB, so I wanted to take a sec to introduce us as I hope to spend a bit more time on this platform.

Here are 5 things you need to know about me and PenPen:
1. I share my home with my husband, 2 kids, 2 cats, 1 dog, innumerable fish and shrimp, and a backyard squirrel named Norman. Norman throws berries at us. We love him anyway.
2. I'm a hardcore introvert. I neeeeeeed alone time to thrive. (Alone time from people, not animals. It's actually preferred to have pets present.)
3. For the past 15 years, I've written about all things dog and cat. Now, my first book is coming out! Woohoo! In February 2025, FOR THE LOVE OF DOG is coming out from Regalo Press, and it weaves together the science of how dogs think with stories of the dogs you've met on my blog over these past 15 years.
4. I’m a huge animal behavior nerd and pour over journals, books, and articles about why animals do the things they do.
5. Penny is deaf, partially-sighted, and the absolute sweetest, gentlest pup on the planet. I think some day she could make an amazing therapy dog working with kids with disabilities... stay tuned!

We'd love to meet YOU! What should people know about you and your pets?

Photo credit: Photography by Austyn

06/05/2024

LOVE these ideas!!

Discover the ultimate guide to toys and games tailor-made for the young dog lovers in your life! From games to crafts, find the perfect gifts to ignite their imagination and nurture their love for furry friends.

24/04/2024

Reflections on the unique role our pups play in our lives

22/04/2024

The 3-3-3 rule of dog rescue... have you heard of this guideline? It’s not about having a “perfect” dog after three months. It’s about building a bond with your dog, building trust and security. Giving your dog a sense of safety. Here's how it's going with sweet Penny, a little over three months in.

Have you heard of the 3-3-3 rule of adopting a new dog? Here's why I think of it as a guideline, plus an update on Penny's 3-month progress.

09/04/2024

I wish crate training hadn't gotten such a bad rap on social media because there are many valid reasons to utilize a crate as a training tool. Here are a few reasons crates can be helpful along with a link to a much more detailed post about crate training: https://ohmydogblog.com/2024/04/should-i-crate-train-my-dog/

07/04/2024

Is anyone else working through the Kol's Notes Fetch bingo card?!? It's so fun to think of all these activities! Here's our progress so far.

What are you and your pup working on? We're still trying to teach Penny how to play ball and tug... and with toys... so those are lower on our priority list, but we're focused on fun and adventures!

Want to join in? Check out the post here: https://kolchakpuggle.com/2024/02/plan-a-more-enriching-year-for-your-dog-with-fetch-fun-activities-bingo-card.html

05/04/2024

Intermediate class ✅ We actually have one session left, but it's a Q & A format. We're still working through the Relaxation Protocol, too. But based on this girl's personality and disposition, I'm starting to wonder... Is therapy dog work in her future? 🤔

31/03/2024

Love this!

Training Tip Tuesday: Socialization!
Another fun collaboration we did with Doggie Drawings by Lili Chin! Socialization is one of the best investments we can make to help our puppies grow into resilient adult dogs. Remember that exposure alone isn't socialization, puppies should be having positive experiences with new things!

If you need help socializing your puppy, Paws Abilities has lots of opportunities to meet the needs of different schedules and budgets!

🐶 Puppy Class: For puppies 7-20 weeks of age. At only $40 for 4 weeks, puppy class is a steal of a deal. Puppies get to play, explore new surfaces, make friends, and get a head start on training. Each week has a different theme: at home, at the vet, at the groomer, at the pet store, etc.
💙 Oronoco: https://paws4u.dogbizpro.com/public/registration/index.aspx?cls=103
💛 Inver Grove Heights: https://paws4u.dogbizpro.com/public/registration/index.aspx?cls=104

⭐ AKC STAR Puppy: For puppies under 1 year of age. This 6 week class is more in depth at covering the basics of puppy ownership. Puppies still get playtime, with more structured training. It's the perfect step between Puppy Class and Beginning Obedience.
💛 Inver Grove Heights: https://paws4u.dogbizpro.com/public/registration/index.aspx?cls=329

🐢 Teenage Transformations: For 5-24 month old puppies. This class is for puppies who missed out on important socialization and are timid or overly excited in new places
💙 Oronoco: https://paws4u.dogbizpro.com/public/registration/index.aspx?cls=348
💛 Inver Grove Heights: https://paws4u.dogbizpro.com/public/registration/index.aspx?cls=275

⛺Puppy Camp: For puppies under 6 months old. Puppies are dropped off once a week to work with a professional trainer. The trainer socializes them to various surfaces, sounds, objects, and handling. The trainer also takes them on field trips and supervises puppy play time
https://pawsabilitiesmn.com/puppy-camp/

💼 Canine to Five: Open to all ages. 3 times a week, a professional trainer comes to your home to work with your puppy 1:1. The trainer will also work with the family once a week to make sure they understand how to maintain the training. We offer specific packages for socialization as well as obedience and specialty behavior packages.
https://pawsabilitiesmn.com/canine-to-five/

26/03/2024

💖💖💖

25/03/2024

Have you ever thought about how your dog learns certain words (car, vet, walk, treat) without you training anything? Lots of time, this acquisition can be chalked up to incidental learning. So, what is incidental learning, and how can you use it to teach your dog new behaviors? Here's everything you never knew you wanted to know about incidental learning! :)
https://ohmydogblog.com/2024/03/incidental-learning-in-dogs/

15/03/2024

I wrote this one as a note to self, but sharing it here in case you need this reminder, too.

My heart breaks each time Penny flinches. A raised arm to throw a ball, a leg lifted to tie a shoe, a reach over her head to give her a little pat. She flinches or cowers. Drops low to the ground and skitters away. It’s gotten better. “Better,” anyway, in the sense that she cowers …

08/03/2024

If we could all approach SCARY THINGS the way Penny does... 🐶

It's easy to forget how many things are unfamiliar to Penny. But, her approach to new / scary things shows so much of her personality and strength.

Her method: See scary thing, tuck tail, back up, pause. Watch. Wait. Creep forward. Sniff, sniff, sniff. Untuck tail. Move on.

I see her wheels turning. "This is frightening... but, aslo, maybe it's fun, too!"

So very brave. Being scared but doing it anyway. 💪

06/03/2024

Love this visual so much! This is what we're working towards with Penny!

I've had this mental image for at least a year and thanks to Doggie Drawings by Lili Chin it has finally been manifested!

To me, these are the three most important pillars of working with a dog, especially a fearful one. We want to build Confidence, Agency, and choices in our dogs.

27/02/2024

Those ears! 😍

Ears for days! PS: This sweet Corgi pup is going to be training as a therapy dog. How cool is that? 🐶🐾

📷: Waylon and his human, Joleene!

26/02/2024

What is the double merle gene? Today, on the blog, I dig into this topic that I knew very little about prior to adopting Penny. Check it out, and let me know what questions you still have:

https://ohmydogblog.com/2024/02/double-merle-gene/

23/02/2024

Here's hoping your weekend is as peaceful and happy as this little guy enjoying the rain on his leaf. ❤️

22/02/2024

“Work the dog in front of you.” Obedience training advice that seems like duh. But it’s much easier said than done. Penny and I have a lot to learn!

Penny started a group training class a few weeks ago, and this girl is crushing it! She seems to accept things as they are and wait patiently to see what will happen next. She moves slowly from task to task and seems to acquire new skills slowly, too. But she just… waits and watches. Having worked for YEARS with Lucas and Cooper with all their reactivity and anxiety and fear to now with Penny, I honestly feel out of my depths. 🤣 Like, I have no chill and she has nothing but chill.

21/02/2024

It’s almost time to get those seeds started! 🌱 What are you growing this year? I have a list of 15 pet-friendly veggies at the link below, and I’m working on a garden planner to get growing soon. This year we’re starting our seeds on trays indoors with little grow lights, which I’m ridiculously excited about! Do you grow a garden? Does your dog like veg??
https://ohmydogblog.com/2019/03/veggies-for-dogs/

18/02/2024

Penny and I will definitely be doing this! Who's with us?

I love this Bingo card trend I'm seeing on social media. I've always been a huge advocate for being intentional and that you can literally plan yourself into a happier, more fulfilling life filled with

18/02/2024

Happy Sunday! 😃

14/02/2024

What a good boy! 🤣 He got the ball! - Riian

24/02/2017

Instagram post by RedandHowling • Feb 18, 2017 at 7:24pm UTC

Anyone else? 😊 🐱🐶
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQqiCmBFPJh/

69 Likes, 4 Comments - RedandHowling () on Instagram: “Personal space😬. ”

22/02/2017

Everything you ever wanted to know about senior dogs and mobility

Wondering about senior dogs and mobility issues? I tell all in one post! :) Warning: It's a doozy, so grab a cup of your favorite beverage, cuddle with your pup, and dig in. (Plus, don't miss the chance to win one of our all-time favorite pet products EVER... at the bottom of the post!)

OK. Maybe not everything, but I’m going to try my best. First, my usual disclaimers: I’m not a vet. I’m not a vet tech. I’m not in any capacity involved in any sort of medic…