Frayed Hat Dog Training

16/04/2024

14/04/2024

We've said it before and we'll say it again- is it any wonder why we love these people? One Tail at a Time are our heroes!

23/03/2024

Some good info shared by our friends at Preiser Animal Hospital. Thanks 👍

Debunking 7 Common Home Remedies Myths for Pet Toxicity so you can take the right steps!

Your pet's health and safety is important. Please seek immediate guidance from a veterinarian for any health concerns. Avoid using home remedies that could potentially harm them.

04/02/2024

Some excellent ways to drain that extra energy and stimulate the body & brain, while interacting with your pup too. 👏

We loved collaborating with Doggie Drawings by Lili Chin on this infographic! There are so many ways to play, and it has a huge effect on your dog's well-being, behavior modification, bonding, and (of course) training.

29/11/2023

I know for a fact that Raven (the super wrinkly striped forehead) is very smart and a total lover!

18/11/2023

Worked with this sweet girl last week, she's brilliant. Reminds me of Cairo, the first hearing Assistance dog I ever trained. 😍

02/11/2023

Well this sure sounds familiar 😃
I've been talking about the benefits of letting our dogs sniff along their walks with a number of clients lately. Our newest friends Molly, Moki, Kona, and Trout in particular are working on their leash manners, and will often ignore food when locked onto a scent. So, we use those places as rewards for eye contact & loose leashes (cued or requested at first, but then voluntarily offered as we progress).

We've also found that allowing a certain segment of the beginning of the walks as nearly 'free-for-all-sniffing' helps to calm the dogs down and they often put less pressure on the leash for the remainder of the walk. It all depends, but learning how & where our dogs sniff also helps us learn about them, and the environment we're passing through- we're lucky enough to live at the base of the Rockies in North Central Utah.

23/10/2023

Great end to another gorgeous fall day here in Northern Utah. Clients becoming friends is the best, and a great excuse for spur of the moment play/ training sessions. Basic obedience, time out breaks for the over-excited, recalls to multiple people, and learning how much is too-much.
And then they all fall down, haha

17/10/2023

I'll edit & shorten this for the dog training world, and any clients I'd like to have-

"If they don't need to use it for Lions, Leopards, Langurs, or (Water monitor) Lizards, then you don't need it for Labradors, Leonbergers, Lhasas, or any other breed." 😁

Dog trainers that use aversive training methods, including Augusto DeOliveira, also known as "The Dog Daddy," have caught the attention of concerned animal welfare groups, trainers, veterinary behaviorists, and pet owners. The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB) recently issued a stat...

16/10/2023

My video set-up skills need some work, but had to share this video of our house guest Trout and our boy Cash- considering they're usually wrestling if within 10 ft of each other.
Trout has been working on improving his Stay & Leave it... I'd say he nailed it 😁
It's hard to see & you have to turn volume up all the way, but I set a piece of food down in front of him & asked him to 'Leave it', then gave a treat to Cash, moved the piece in front of Trout again, then released him to eat it with "Ok".

14/09/2023

This is what those beautiful, fluffy white dogs were meant to do! Working dogs all the way, and very effective.

The footage of a puma hunting sheep was captured with thermal imaging cameras in the Patagonian wilderness as part of a new National Geographic show.

03/09/2023

😍

27/08/2023

Go ahead, watch the whole thing and don't choke up a little at the end, I dare you 😉🥰.
Animals are incredible. Animal-human partnerships are amazing, period.

27/08/2023

Nope, can't do THIS with a shock collar either. 🤘

27/08/2023

Happy International Dog Day!

Here's a smattering of some of the pups who've allowed me to have one of the coolest jobs ever for the past 17 years. 🥳🤘🫵

15/08/2023

Who's got a Super-sitter? I use this so much and it has helped me help so many dogs in so many situations.
Caveat- though they mention not "needing" a treat, it doesn't mean you can't add one now and then of course 😉

Show or tell us where you use that Super Sit!

Sit can solve a lot!

A dog that will sit on cue reliably and promptly is always under control and as a result, they are welcome almost everywhere they go!

Do you want to learn how to improve the reliability of your dog's Sit-Stay so you can keep them safe, bring them to more places, and include them in move activities?

You'll need to use a Differential Reward Schedule, Life Rewards, your Voice, a Formal Name, and lots of Troubleshooting Sessions, but we can show you how, and we can show you how to make it FUN!

Join the Top Dog Academy with a free 1-month trial and get started today: https://dunbar.info/august2023

We'll help you teach your dog a SUPER SIT!

12/08/2023

Anyone else else get a kick out of watching or hearing their dogs dream? It also illustrates how much a mentally & physically fulfilling activity can do, without a need for intensity.

🐕 Cash went for a casual, shorter walk (maybe a mile or so) at a local historic farm this morning around 9am, complete with a river, waterfowl, livestock, plus people and other dogs.
🐴🐄🐷🐐 He got to practice calmly approaching & watching the giant rabbit, smelling goat & pig butts through fences, and paying attention to Meghan when asked for it.

🩺💉Then he had a somewhat exciting visit to the vaccination clinic for a Rabies update and a very excited puppy with a less-than-aware owner not really managing him so he was a bit keyed up- not from the Vet itself, he loves getting shots... weirdo 😒.

⏳️Anyway the point is that at only 3pm, he has been sound asleep and even in R.E.M. sleep for over an hour. Not because he ran 3 miles, hiked 5 miles in the mountains, or anything else truly strenuous. He got a good balance of physical activity by moving around outside, but his brain was fully-engaged almost the entire time, though only for probably a total of 2-3 hours - sniffing & cataloging scents, paying attention to leash pressure and where Meghan was, or was not going, responding to very basic cues Sit, Wait, Leave it, Here, etc.

So take some time to let your dog be a dog experience the world their way... and maybe experience it yourself in a new way too 😉

05/07/2023

Hey friends back in IL, anyone know someone looking good for a buddy? This is a great place to look, OTAT is top notch!

02/07/2023

See kids, all things need enrichment, and it doesn't have to be a species-specific toy. The armadillo! 😍

16/06/2023

*ATTN Western States dog owners*
Please read this post carefully and commit this plant to memory. I first learned of it while visiting our friends at Rogue Detection Teams up in Washington.

🐏Many dogs like to nibble grass, but this plant in its early stages can be tough to distinguish from grass to the untrained eye. (See photos in comments)

🌿This is a great motivator to practice (or ask a trainer to help instill) your "Leave it" & "Drop it" behaviors with your dogs. While it's easy to dismiss grass eating around the yard (we do) it's important to remember your dog doesn't necessarily distinguish this grass 🌾 from that grass 🌾, and whether it was sprayed or is a dangerous plant, so it's up to us to be extra watchful.

🏥 This is a perfect time to be up date your local Emergency Vet and Poison Control numbers in your phone. If your pup does ingest this plant, a timely response could literally mean life or death.

WARNING: Death camas is in full bloom on many of our protected open spaces right now. Even though the flowers are alluring, it is a toxic plant that you and your furry friends should avoid.

Here's what to look for: Death camas has a single stem that produces clusters of white, cream, or pale yellow flowers. The plant grows from a bulb that looks like an onion however it does not give off an onion-like smell. The death camas plant contains several complex poisonous alkaloids and the entire plant is potentially lethal if eaten. The symptoms of poisoning include dizziness, nausea, and profuse vomiting.

So, while you're out enjoying this super bloom year, please be cautious around this plant and admire it's beauty from afar!

NANA B'S PRESERVE | 63 ACRES FOREVER PROTECTED

06/06/2023

Sometimes the best thing is a blazing bright sun spot 😄. Who else has an obsessive sun-dog?

06/06/2023

We've been hearing this a lot over the years... actually we've heard every conceivable variation. Regardless of age, please always consider positive reinforcement training & behavior modification as your first step. Don't believe people who tell you "Oh you just need to get him fixed and that'll stop". Nope, not always, and I've never heard a good reason to NOT implement proper training, or teaching if you prefer, for any dog.
As trainers we try to NOT advise on medical & genetic inquiries, short of "yes, seems like a urinary issue or painful body area based on behavior- have your Vet check this out." This is just good info from folks we respect, but feel free to do your own reading & research..

Before everyone jumps all over shelters for neutering early, or before young pups are adopted- they're often dealing with municipal codes, lack of resources & space, and limited staff. They're doing the best they can- you can always volunteer or even apply to work there- I guarantee you'll have a whole new outlook on shelters, and shelter dogs, in no time.

The effects of neutering a dog too early changed the recommendation of when to neuter.

03/06/2023

Another great set of adoptions with our friends at OTAT. Even though we're no longer in the Chicago area, we still love showing our support for this tremendous organization. They don't just rescue the easy ones, they'll take in just about any animal in need if they can find the space.