K-9 Virtual Academy

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K-9 Virtual Academy

Offering online canine training classes that are flexible, convenient & personalized and phone consultation services for behavioral or training concerns
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26/08/2024

FACT or FICTION FRIDAY
Answer is:
FICTION!

a puppy is unsure or shows fear or hesitation in playing with other dogs, you should especially look for opportunities for the puppy to interact with calm, gentle dogs to help build confidence. Puppies who don’t grow up with positive dog to dog interactions are the dogs who grow up barking at, being afraid of or showing aggressive behavior towards other dogs… because they don’t understand them and their behaviors! Many of the communication behaviors a puppy learns in play with others dogs are helpful for building appropriate communication and responses in human interactions as well!

23/08/2024

FACT or FICTION FRIDAY?!

If a puppy shows fear or hesitation in playing with other dogs, you should protect it from interacting with other dogs until it is older and gains confidence.

FACT or FICTION?!

Share your thoughts!

28/07/2024

FACT or FICTION FRIDAY answer is:
FACT!

It is important throughout the training process to provide periodic opportunities for puppies to practice good decision making under safe supervision. This is how puppies build our trust and earn their freedom! This means that instead of constantly giving a cue/command or telling a puppy NO when a “potential” incident looms, we sometimes hold our tongue and wait a moment to see how the puppy responds. Does he dive into the situation with a poor life decision? Does he contemplate a moment before making a choice? Does he look for or to you for guidance? Does she make a good decision on her own? As a good handler, you should jump in and REWARD the times the puppy checks in with you or makes a good decision on its own.

26/07/2024

FACT or FICTION FRIDAY?!

It is important to provide opportunities for puppies to practice good decision making under safe supervision.

FACT or FICTION?!

Share your thoughts!
My comments will@be posted in ~48 hours

14/07/2024

FACT or FICTION FRIDAY answer is:
FICTION!

In dogs, the most critical period of socialization occurs between two and four MONTHS of age. What does that mean to us? It means that 1) if we want to take advantage of the most important time of behavioral development in our puppies, we should be working hard to “socialize” them between 2 and 4 months of age, and 2) We need to recognize that there is a LOT of variation across breeds and individual dogs that determines the rate and response for socialization and how it will affect our individual puppies. Socialization is all about teaching your dog how to behave and exist in the world properly, not just overwhelming them with exposure to a myriad of experiences.

12/07/2024

FACT or FICTION FRIDAY?!

In dogs, the most critical period of socialization occurs between two and four years of age.

FACT or FICTION?!

Share your thoughts!

23/06/2024

FACT or FICTION FRIDAY answer is:
FACT!

Being consistent in your expectations with little (or not so little), innocent (or not-so-innocent) puppies is incredibly important for their future behavior and training! Any time you make an exception to a rule, “just once”, a puppy learns that it isn’t truly a “rule”. You can explain rule exceptions to kids, (we’re at Grandma’s house… just this once… since you asked nicely…) but not to dogs. As much as you may want to let the little puppy “get away” with some behaviors that seem kind of endearing or “not a big deal” while she is small, try to keep in mind the kind of dog you want your puppy to grow up to be, and begin setting those expectations now.

21/06/2024

FACT or FICTION FRIDAY?!

Consistency in expectations is especially critical with puppies who are learning the “rules” of their and your world.

FACT or FICTION?!

Share your thoughts!

02/06/2024

FACT or FICTION FRIDAY answer is:
FICTION!

Knowing your dog’s breed(s) combination is fun information but also can be very helpful for understanding or anticipating certain behaviors and adjusting approaches to training. Recognizing that differences in breed development and behaviors not only exist, but also greatly impact responses to training are an important reason why dog training strategies should be individualized for each dog and situation and no one technique works for every dog or scenario. This can be frustrating when dog families compare situations and progress but is also part of what makes dog training so diverse, exciting and rewarding!

31/05/2024

FACT or FICTION FRIDAY?!

Knowing your dog’s breed(s) combination is fun information but should not affect your training approach and methodology.

FACT or FICTION?
Share your thoughts!

19/05/2024

FACT or FICTION FRIDAY answer is:
FACT!

Chasing and trying to catch the puppy who is playing keep-away is a reinforcing action and generally not very helpful toward eliminating the behavior. Playing keep-away after stealing toys or food is often an attention seeking behavior. Attaching a light leash for the puppy to drag around in the house or a light long line outside (even in a fenced in area) can help address the issue in a more effective manner. When the puppy begins to play keep-away, you can step on or grab the leash, give the puppy a firm NO, and then “reel” them in to you, encouraging and praising them as they come. It is VERY important to REWARD the puppy when you bring it toward you. You want to counteract the reinforcement of avoidance (whether that be for joy of the chase or avoidance of a negative situation/consequence) with a positive association of coming to you.

17/05/2024

FACT or FICTION FRIDAY?!

Chasing a puppy that has stolen an object it should not have is very reinforcing and may, in fact, cause the behavior to be repeated, rather than diminished.

FACT or FICTION?
Share your thoughts!

28/04/2024

FACT or FICTION FRIDAY answer is:
FACT!

The less physical manipulation we can do when teaching a puppy, the faster it will catch on to completing what you are asking without needing your “help”, and the easier it will be to “wean” off of any physical cues whatsoever! For many puppies, physically “helping” them perform cues/commands is confusing and distracting.

26/04/2024

FACT or FICTION FRIDAY?!

For many puppies, physically “helping” or manipulating them to perform cues/commands is confusing and distracting.

FACT or FICTION?
Share your thoughts!

16/04/2024

FACT or FICTION FRIDAY answer is:
FICTION!

Allowing your puppy to drag a light leash attached to his flat collar around the house and yard any time he is not crated or otherwise closely confined WILL likely soil your leash (don’t use an expensive one!) but it also has many benefits to you and the puppy, including:

a. Quick access for getting a hold of the puppy if/when he steals a forbidden object and runs, inappropriately toilets on the floor, sneaks under or behind an object where you can’t reach him, or otherwise requires a prompt, unexpected interaction with you!
b. Loose leash walking training head-start! Allowing the puppy to drag a leash around gives you many short, “unofficial” opportunities to practice loose leash walking concepts
c. Acclimation to touch – dragging a leash around can be initially “uncomfortable” or even annoying to a puppy, but is great desensitization to having something rubbing against, under, or over the puppy’s body, which ultimately may lead to a less “touch sensitive” adult dog.

I utilize and highly recommend a “drag leash” for all young or new puppies and dogs.

12/04/2024

FACT or FICTION FRIDAY?!

Allowing a young puppy or new dog to drag a leash will not only soil the leash, but will also teach a puppy to pull on the leash and make it uncomfortable with things touching its body.

FACT or FICTION?
Share your thoughts!

08/04/2024

CONGRATULATIONS to these two cuties, who recently completed our Basic Obedience and Manners and Puppy Preschool online courses, respectively.

I am currently offering classes periodically, by request, and am starting a Puppy Preschool session this week and plan to offer Level 2 Obedience/CGC test prep next month. Please reach out to me if you have interest in taking any of my classes! It would be a pleasure to work with you!

08/04/2024

FACT or FICTION FRIDAY answer is:
FACT!

Providing opportunities for your puppy to play with healthy, vaccinated, temperamentally “safe” dogs of a variety of personalities, breeds, ages and sizes is a great part of socialization for a dog. Many of the communication behaviors a puppy or adult dog learns in play with others dogs, such as bite inhibition, intensity management and signal response and reciprocation are helpful for building appropriate communication and responses in human interactions as well!

05/04/2024

FACT or FICTION FRIDAY?!

Many of the communication behaviors a puppy or adult dog learns in play with others dogs can be helpful for building appropriate communication and responses in human interactions as well.

FACT or FICTION?!
Share your thoughts!

31/03/2024

FACT or FICTION FRIDAY answer is:
A little of both!

It is very typical for puppies to go through phases of development (often between 4-24ish months of age) that include testing their handlers and boundaries, exploring their independent and experimenting with new behaviors. How we prepare for and respond to these phases can affect their duration and intensity, as well as our own “quality of life” while we are going through them.

If you have a young puppy and would like to start setting the foundation for good behaviors now, please consider joining my next Puppy Preschool class, beginning Monday, April 8. We will be covering housebreaking, socializing, behavioral development, techniques for addressing undesirable behaviors, timing and introduction of basic commands, appropriate (and inappropriate) play, handling and other personalized topics pertaining to young puppies. Please contact me if you have questions or would like to join our next session!

29/03/2024

FACT or FICTION FRIDA?!

The developmental stages represented by this graphic, with some variation in timing and intensity across breeds, do in fact, represent normal puppy raising experiences…

FACT or FICTION?!
Share your thoughts!

24/03/2024

FACT or FICTION FRIDAY answer is:
FACT!

Leash walking should not be a tug of war between you and the puppy; you should have the ability to make the decision for where you and the puppy are going, and when. If the puppy thinks or knows it can pull and get to where he wants, even sometimes, it will continue to try pulling on the leash. Select the type of training equipment equipment that works for you and your puppy and your “fight” over walking on the leash should begin to make progress!

22/03/2024

FACT or FICTION FRIDAY?!

If a puppy thinks or knows it can pull and get to where he or she wants, even sometimes, it will continue to try pulling on the leash.

FACT or FICTION?!

Share your thoughts! My comments will be posted in ~48 hours.

03/03/2024

FACT or FICTION FRIDAY answer is:
FACT!

The less physical manipulation (hands on the puppy) we can utilize when introducing new behaviors or skills, the faster the puppy will catch on to completing what you are asking without needing your “help” and the easier it will be to “wean” off of any physical cues. For many puppies, physically “helping” them perform cues/commands is confusing and distracting, and utilizing a motivator as a lure or guide and/or targeting and rewarding behaviors as they occur naturally may be more effective.

01/03/2024

FACT or FICTION FRIDAY?!

The less physical manipulation (hands on the puppy) we can utilize when introducing new behaviors or skills, the faster the puppy will catch on to completing what you are asking without needing your “help” and the easier it will be to “wean” off of any physical cues.

Fact or Fiction?
Share your thoughts!

18/02/2024

FACT or FICTION FRIDAY answer is:
FACT!

Feeding your dog in the crate or in any specific, intentional location is an excellent way to create positive associations and reduce location-specific anxiety with a food motivated dog. It may take repeated exposures to see progress, but pairing positive associations with potentially negative ones can be a great behavior modification or shaping strategy.

16/02/2024

FACT or FICTION FRIDAY?!

Feeding your dog in the crate or in any specific, intentional location is an excellent way to create positive associations and reduce location-specific anxiety with a food motivated dog.

10/02/2024

Final call for anyone interested!
Class begins on Monday!
I can take a few more students if interested, so please contact me ASAP if you would like to join the fully-virtual, flexible, information and activity packed class.

05/02/2024

Who’s interested in BASIC OBEDIENCE and MANNERS class - a completely virtual and schedule-flexible dog training class for puppies and adult dogs at any level of training (beginning or refresher course for more experienced)

WHEN: Monday, February 12-March 24, 2024

Please contact me for a registration form or with any questions

$75 for pet dogs / $60 for puppies belonging to non-profit organizations

05/02/2024

FACT or FICTION FRIDAY answer is:
FICTION!

Teaching and practicing the recall is, unfortunately, one of the easiest cues or commands to unintentionally introduce the opposite of what you want, when combined with inconsistencies and lack of follow-through. When you are introducing the formal recall (“Come”/“Here”), you SHOULD practice frequently, in a variety of settings, beginning with low-distraction, familiar settings and working towards more distracting settings after success in low distraction, and as much as possible, for as long as possible, you should always practice with a leash or longline attached that enables you to follow through if you issue a recall cue. Nothing teaches a pup it doesn’t need to come when called faster than overusing the recall word and not being able to follow through having the pup come to you. That said, if there are times you would like your puppy to come but can’t necessarily enforce it if the puppy chooses not to, try using noises or another word (NOT your formal recall word), to encourage the puppy to come to you, and still praise and reward if it does! This way, you can save your formal recall word for those times you can follow through, or in an emergency situation, which you will hopefully never need!

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FACT or FICTION FRIDAY?! Introducing threshold respect, whether through inside doorways, outside doors or gates, is a great way to instill and practice self control, respect and safety.

FACT or FICTION FRIDAY?! Introducing threshold respect, whether through inside doorways, outside doors or gates, is a great way to instill and practice self control, respect and safety. FACT or FICTION?! Share your thoughts!

FOLLOW ALONG FRIDAY! Lessons from Week 5 of Puppy Preschool. “Having opportunities to play with healthy, vaccinated, temperamentally “safe” dogs of a variety of personalities, breeds, ages and sizes is a very important part of socialization for a puppy. If a puppy is unsure or shows fear or hesitation in playing with other dogs, you should especially look for opportunities for the puppy to interact with calm, gentle dogs to help build confidence. Puppies who don’t grow up with positive dog to dog interactions are the dogs who grow up barking at, being afraid of or showing aggressive behavior towards other dogs… because they don’t understand them and their behaviors! Many of the communication behaviors a puppy learns in play with others dogs are helpful for building appropriate communication and responses in human interactions as well!”

FOLLOW ALONG FRIDAY! You can begin creating good habits in attentiveness by asking for and rewarding your puppy’s attention. Look for opportunities throughout the day to get your puppy’s attention. Say his or her name and encourage him or her to look at you. If the puppy does not know or respond well to his name yet, follow up with kissy, squeaky or silly noises or make dramatic or awkward movements (clapping, jumping, falling to the ground, etc.) to get his or her attention. If he or she shows a response of attentiveness (ideally looking at you, although ear twitches, tail wags or coming to you are also acceptable responses demonstrating your puppy’s attention, REWARD!

FIX-IT FRIDAY comments! Thank you all for your great feedback! First of all, this is a very NORMAL puppy behavior. Puppies or even new, older dogs do not naturally understand what is “theirs” and what is not - this has to be taught! Just like you can teach a dog that your electric cords, towels, clothing, etc., are not to taste or play with, it is possible to teach a puppy that the children’s toys are off limits, in spite of looking similar to the puppy’s toys. But this will take training! It should also be mentioned that most puppies love attention, so this grabbing a toy and running can quickly become a “game” if the puppy realizes it will get you up and running and “in dialogue” with the puppy! 😮🤣 So what do we do about this? 1. It is very helpful to have any new dogs or young puppies drag a light leash around whenever they are out of their crates/pens. This will enable easier access and reinforcement in all areas of training. 2. Because this is a behavior I want to discourage, I should create a negative association with the behavior. I find a 50/50 white vinegar and water mixture in a squirt bottle works wonderfully, as I can reprimand the puppy without physically touching it (potentially rewarding) and the spray also naturally encourages the puppy to spit the item out. 3. Follow up with praise and reward for an appropriate response (spitting the item out and leaving it - I will be prepared to spray again if the puppy goes right back to the item after the initial response) 4. While entire prevention is not possible unless I never let the puppy in the majority of the house, and I also want the puppy to learn to leave human items alone, not just never encounter them, I can help the training along by providing plenty of interactive, appropriate play opportunities with the puppy’s toys, as well as confining it safely when I cannot supervise and intervene in these situations. Have questions? Feel free to comment or DM me!

FIX-IT FRIDAY!!! You let your 15 week beagle puppy out of its crate to have some supervised “free time”. You cannot completely “puppy proof” your home because you have 4 young children and nothing stays in place for long! Your puppy grabs a hold of one of your children’s stuffed animals and runs... Please comment with 1-3 ways you could set yourself up for success in addressing this behavior. My comments and another video will be posted in ~48 hours. 😊

FANTASTIC FEATURE FRIDAY! Introducing WAMBACH! In Spring, 2020, we were asked by #caninecompanions (www.canine.org), a non-profit organization that we volunteer to raise puppies for, if we would take a pup for a few weeks of “Morrow training camp”! We were happy to oblige, especially since this special pup had been a past student in one of our classes! Little did any of us realize that the country would soon “shut down” due to the first COVID outbreak, and what was going to be “a couple weeks” turned into 10 wonderful weeks “stuck” with a pup named Wambach! After her time with us, Wambach returned to her volunteer puppy raiser in Illinois to complete her puppy training. Wambach entered Canine Companions’ professional service dog training in May, 2021, and we were thrilled to receive news this week that she graduated as a Facility Dog to help children through another non-profit organization that works to prevent, intervene, and treat child abuse and neglect. We are so proud of Wambach and her volunteer puppy raiser and so thankful for the opportunity we had to know and love her! Here are some clips from her training time with us. 😊

3 weeks - that is about how old these puppies are! It is also the amount of time until my next online class session begins! Please contact me if you are interested in enrolling in: Puppy Preschool Basic Obedience and Manners Level 2 Obedience/CGC test prep Advanced Canine Commands My next 6 week session will begin 10/18/21!

FACT or FICTION FRIDAY?! You can begin creating good habits in attentiveness and responsiveness by asking for and rewarding your puppy’s attention on you throughout the day, not just during training sessions. FACT or FICTION?! Share your thoughts! My comments will be posted in ~48 hours.

Thank you to all of our participants in the K-9 Virtual Academy Spokespup opportunity! @rooneythedog2016 @fritofeet1026 @willows_journey_as_a_bernese @sirwesleypotato @esmes_goldenlife @rubyvandoodle!!! We are pleased to announce our winner, @esmes_goldenlife, winning a free, 6 week online training class session! And with such a close runner up, @rooneythedog2016, we would like to offer a 50% discount if you would like to enroll in one of of our online classes as well!

Hey there, friends! FINAL CALL for pups with social media accounts to sign up to win a free class with the K-9 Virtual Academy! Even if you have had some training, continued education can be fun and helpful! 😉 Send me your username and you will be entered! POLL question: should 1) Turner draw a winner tonight or should we 2) have a social media vote by followers?! 😃

How training is going around here... 🤣🤔🤦‍♀️

Training Tip Tuesday - Mental Stimulation

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About the Trainer

Mary Beth Morrow is a registered veterinary technician and has a Bachelor and Master of Science degree in Animal Sciences with a focus on puppy development and behavior. She is married to a veterinarian and currently has three young children. She has been raising assistance dogs as a volunteer puppy raiser for Canine Companions for Independence since 2001 and taught and assisted with a variety of canine obedience classes over the years.

Mary Beth decided to begin offering dog training courses online after realizing that others might be in a similar situation as her, with limited time or flexibility to attend regularly scheduled dog training classes. She hoped that providing an online dog training option might enable busy dog-owners or owners of dogs who do not handle a "classroom" environment well to reap some of the benefits of dog training classes.

Mary Beth enjoys working with owners and dogs to discover the best training style for their situation, combining positive reinforcement and redirection as needed and desired. Mary Beth is looking forward to working with you and your dog!