Naples Top Dogs Blog

What Tasks Can a Psychiatric Service Dog Perform?

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 18:23:44 GMT

Helpful Guide for Dog Lovers and Future Handlers

Psychiatric service dogs (PSDs) are more than loyal companions—they’re highly trained working animals that support people living with mental health disabilities. Their tasks go far beyond comfort or emotional support. These dogs perform specific, trained actions that help mitigate symptoms of conditions such as PTSD, anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, OCD, and other issues related to mental health.

Often, these are “invisible” disorders, as you know, when someone is blind or is in a wheelchair, but would not know if they suffer from depression. Whether the mental health condition is anxiety or depression related, dogs that can be PSDs are highly trained and task-specific for that mental health condition. You can actually have one PSD for one condition and another for another condition, as long as the PSD is task-trained specifically for that condition.

The Essential Tasks a Psychiatric Service Dog Can Perform

How These Fantastic Dogs Support Mental Health Every Day

Psychiatric service dogs are transforming lives by providing trained, reliable assistance to people with mental health disabilities. Unlike emotional support animals, PSDs are protected under the ADA because they perform task‑based work that directly supports their handler’s disability.

If you’ve ever wondered what these amazing dogs actually do , this guide breaks down the most common—and most life‑changing—tasks they perform.

1. Interrupting Anxiety or Panic Attacks

One of the most widely recognized tasks is interrupting escalating anxiety . A PSD may:

Nudge or paw at the handler
Ask for petting as this redirects the handler
Apply deep pressure therapy
Lead the handler away from a stressful environment
Bring medical items like medication or a sensory tool

These actions help break the cycle of panic before it becomes overwhelming.

2. Providing Deep Pressure Therapy (DPT)

Deep pressure therapy is a calming technique in which the dog applies gentle pressure to the handler’s lap, chest, or legs. This can:

Reduce heart rate
Calm the handler down
Ease dissociation
Lower stress hormones
Improve emotional regulation

DPT is especially helpful for PTSD, anxiety disorders, and autism spectrum conditions.

3. Room Searches and Safety Checks

For individuals with PTSD or trauma‑related disorders, a PSD can perform safety sweeps by:

Entering a room first
Turning on the lights
Conducting a parameter check around the home
Checking behind furniture
Alerting the handler if someone is approaching

This task provides a sense of security that assists with daily life and makes it more manageable.

4. Guiding the Handler Out of Overwhelming Situations

When a handler becomes overstimulated or triggered, a psychiatric service dog can:

Lead them to an exit
Guide them to a quiet space
Create physical space in crowds
Block others from approaching

This specific task helps prevent panic attacks and emotional overload.

5. Medication Reminders

Many people with psychiatric disabilities struggle with executive functioning. A PSD can be trained to:

Alert the handler at specific times
Retrieve medication containers
Bring water bottles
Persistently nudge until the handler responds
Bring a medical bag

This task supports treatment consistency and overall health. For people suffering from mental health issues, medication management is key to managing their health. It is also critical to take medication to prevent a relapse.

6. Waking the Handler from Nightmares

Nightmares and night terrors are common symptoms of PTSD and severe anxiety. A PSD may:

Wake the handler gently
Sleep in bed, making the handler feel safe
Turn on the lights
Provide grounding through touch
Stay close until the handler feels safe

This task improves sleep quality and reduces nighttime distress. Consistent sleep is also critical for maintaining mental sobriety.

7. Interrupting Harmful Behaviors

For individuals who experience self‑harm urges, compulsive behaviors, or dissociation, a PSD can:

Paw or nudge to interrupt the behavior
Bring grounding objects
Redirect the handler to a safer activity
Alert a caregiver if needed

This is one of the most critical and life‑saving PSD tasks.

8. Alerting to Emotional Changes

If trained for the task, certain Psychiatric service dogs can detect subtle shifts in their handler’s:

Breathing
Sweating
Heart rate
Body language
Scent changes

They may alert before a panic attack, dissociative episode, or emotional shutdown begins—giving the handler time to take their medication, get to a safe place, or call a friend or family member.

9. Fetching Items During Mental Health Episodes

During panic, depression, or dissociation, simple tasks can feel impossible. A PSD can retrieve:

Phones
Water
Medication
List of important phone numbers
Comfort items
Emergency kits

This support helps the handler feel safe and grounded. Even with everyday normal life situations, people with mental health issues face challenges that “normal” people take for granted. Sometimes, just grocery shopping can be overwhelming. The comfort of companionship is worth a Golden’s weight in gold :)

Psychiatric service dogs are remarkable partners who provide independence, safety, and emotional stability through trained, purposeful tasks . Their work is not only practical—it’s life‑changing. Naples Top Dogs has always committed to and remains committed to helping those with “invisible” disabilities. We understand, firsthand, how valuable a PSD is and the comfort it brings to the handler. If you are suffering from mental health issues or know someone that is suffering, please dial *311 or contact NAMI National Association o f Mental Illness and speak to someone.

The Heart Behind Habibi Bear Dogs, Love, Genetics, And Hannah’s Heart Foundation

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 15:45:20 GMT

The Heart Behind Habibi Bears

A Dog Created For The Modern Family

At Habibi Bears, everything starts with one thing: my love for my dogs and the families they serve.

That love is what began this journey, long before “doodles” were a catch phrase or a trend on social media. From the beginning, this was never about creating a cute marketing label. It was about connection, comfort, and my lifelong passion for genetics and what becomes possible when you breed with both heart and science in mind.

I have seen, over and over, how the right dog can soften a room, calm a worried child, and quietly become the emotional anchor of a home. Habibi Bears were created for that purpose.

How This Journey Really Began

Before I was a breeder, I was an educator. I spent years working with children from all kinds of backgrounds and with all kinds of needs. In my classrooms, I saw how a truly intuitive dog could

Reach a child who had shut down
Offer comfort during emotional overload
Help kids feel safe, seen, and regulated just by being there

At the same time, I was deeply involved in the purebred dog world. I have a lot of respect for purebred dogs and for responsible breeders who care deeply about preserving and protecting their breeds. Many are doing beautiful, devoted work.

In my own experience, I simply began to notice what can happen over time when a gene pool becomes very narrow. There can be more health challenges, more emotional fragility, and less long-term resilience. I did not want to criticize or tear anything down. I wanted to respond thoughtfully inside my own program, to help those I cared about.

So I asked myself how I could

Honor the dogs I loved
Support the families I cared about
Restore more genetic diversity through my own breeding decisions

My passion for genetics became my compass. I wanted to gently turn the tide on shrinking diversity and create a unique line of dogs with emotional stability, physical soundness, and long-term wellness in mind, all while preserving true hybrid vigor. At that time, most mixed breeds were not thoughtfully or intentionally bred, they were often dismissed as “mutts.” So when I received that call inviting me into something new, I knew I was going to ruffle some feathers.

But my heart was clearly leading me down a new path. I rolled up my sleeves, learned to grow a thicker skin, and chose to keep following my inner guidance, trusting that this vision was worth protecting.

That is the foundation of the Habibi Bear.

A Dog Created For Modern Families

Habibi Bears were not created as a quick designer cross. This is a purpose bred companion, developed over many years of experience, observation, and careful genetic planning.

Every Habibi Bear is

Raised with our relationship based Habibi Method of socialization, where connection and trust come first
Allergy friendly and low to non shedding, to support more families with sensitivities
Intuitively tuned in to their people, especially children and emotionally sensitive humans
Gentle, nurturing, and emotionally resilient, created for real life in a modern family

My dream has always been very specific. I wanted to create a dog who feels like they were made for the living room, the school pickup line, the sensory overload moment on the floor, the bedtime snuggles, and all the big feelings that come with being human.

Before “Doodle” Was A Trend

When I began this journey, “doodle” was not a trending word. I can still remember the first time I heard the term and thought it meant a drawing. There were no viral hybrid names and there was no social media hype to follow.

There was simply

A classroom full of students who needed calm, intuitive, non overwhelming dogs
A growing awareness that I wanted to support genetic diversity in my own lines
A heart level calling to create emotionally intelligent companions designed for deep connection

I studied lineages, temperaments, health, and behavior patterns. I thought about how different traits worked together and what type of dog would truly serve the needs of today’s families.

The question that guided me was simple and powerful

What if I could intentionally create a line of dogs that are emotionally intuitive, genetically diverse, and truly built to support the hearts of the people who love them.

That question is what ultimately shaped the Habibi Bear, long before the doodle trend became what it is today. Looking back, I am still amazed at how it all came together. In their own beautiful way, the dogs carried healing and light wherever they went, touching hearts in ways I could not have scripted. Before long, people from across the country were reaching out, asking if I would be having another litter and hoping for a chance to bring one of these special souls into their family.

A Nursery Full Of Purpose

When people hear the phrase “home-raised,” it can mean very different things. When I first started, all of my dogs were in the house because I was determined to keep that cozy, home-raised feeling. What I learned very quickly is that without thoughtful management, life becomes chaotic, accidental breedings can happen, and it is harder to keep everyone safe and calm.

Seasoned, purpose-driven breeders know that management is an act of love. We design spaces that keep our dogs secure, our breedings intentional, and our moms and puppies relaxed and protected. For us, that meant creating dedicated areas that feel like an extension of our home. Our dogs quite literally have their own home, their own rooms, and their own carefully planned routines.

We have a quiet, temperature-controlled nursery where moms can rest, focus on their babies, and feel safe in their own den space. Once puppies are weaned, they move into our toddler area, where enrichment and foundational concept training begin. We also have a beautiful Enrichment and Training Center with its own dog yard, a private dog park for our adults to play, and puppy yards with K9 dog grass that help protect them from outdoor disease risks.

I have dedicated my life to studying what dogs truly need and to designing spaces that are both homey and highly managed, so our dogs are safe, contained, and emotionally supported. When dogs are in season, they have separate spaces. This prevents stress, fights, injuries, and unplanned breedings. Clear boundaries, structure, and thoughtful management allow our dogs to relax and thrive.

All of this is part of why our breeding program is so intentional. We are raising a breed designed for connection, therapy, emotional regulation, family companionship, and even service work. Our dogs are second to none because they grow up with a healthy mindset in healthy, purpose-built spaces. And yes, they also spend time in different areas of our house, but it is all planned and scheduled so that every experience serves their development.

You can read more about our story and program here: https://www.habibibears.com

Beyond Puppies

Hannah’s Heart Foundation

Habibi Bears are one part of a much bigger mission, carried through Hannah’s Heart Foundation , our nonprofit organization.

Through Hannah’s Heart, we

Support therapeutic partnerships between intuitive dogs and humans of all ages
Teach canine emotional literacy, so people better understand how dogs feel, communicate, and connect
Share our curriculum, The Human’s Guide to the Dog Galaxy™ , to help families build deeper, more respectful relationships with their dogs

To me, dogs are not here just to perform tricks or pose for cute photos.

They are here to connect, support, and heal.

Hannah’s Heart Foundation exists to honor that truth, and Habibi Bears are a living expression of that mission.

Golden Years, Happy Beds: Why Orthopedic Dog Beds Matter for Seniors

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 15:46:45 GMT

As our beloved dogs age, their bodies change — slowing down, stiffening up, and requiring a little extra help to stay comfortable. One of the simplest, most impactful ways you can support your senior dog? An orthopedic dog bed.

What Is an Orthopedic Dog Bed?

Orthopedic beds are designed to distribute weight evenly, relieve pressure on joints, and cushion aging bones. Orthopedic beds use high-density or memory foam. This isn’t just about luxury, it’s about mobility, pain relief, and quality of life.

Why It Matters (Especially in Naples!)

Here in sunny Naples, tile floors and humid days can make it harder for older dogs to get up and down. Hard surfaces are tough on arthritic joints, and without proper support, even rest time can become uncomfortable. An orthopedic bed:

Reduces stiffness and joint pain
Aids recovery after walks or grooming
Encourages deeper, more restful sleep
Keeps senior pups off cold or slippery floors

Our Top Pick: The Big Barker Bed

Not all orthopedic beds are created equal. One standout is the Big Barker 7” Orthopedic Dog Bed , which was clinically studied by the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine. In just 28 days, senior dogs using the Big Barker showed:

Improved mobility
Reduced pain and stiffness
Better nighttime rest and alertness

“Experts like Dr. James Serpell of Penn Vet have long emphasized the importance of comfort and environment in a senior dog’s well-being. A supportive bed is one powerful way to care for your dog in their golden years.”

You can learn more at bigbarker.com .

Naples Top Dogs: Senior Dog Specialists

At Naples Top Dogs , we specialize in helping senior dogs thrive — with gentle walks, pain-aware grooming, and advice tailored to every age and stage. We’ve seen firsthand how switching to the right bed makes a world of difference.

Need a recommendation? Let us help you find the perfect fit based on your dog’s size, condition, and habits. One of Naples Top Dogs' senior pup, Bear, a 12-year-old German Shepherd, loves his Barker Bed and has noticeably less fatigue and discomfort since using the Barker Bed. From one fellow dog lover to another, we love and trust the Barker Bed.

#SeniorDogLove #NaplesTopDogs #OrthopedicDogBed #BigBarker #DogComfortMatters #GoldenYearsPup #SeniorDogCare #DogWellness #PetParenting #DogHealthTips #SpoiledDogLife #TopDogsNaples

Pro Tips on Potty Training Your Puppy with Bells

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 19:45:17 GMT

Potty training a puppy is a crucial step in raising a well-behaved adult dog. It requires patience, consistency and the right techniques. With patience, lots of positive reinforcement and a set potty training schedule, you are setting your new puppy up for success.

A structured potty training schedule can make the process smoother. It helps your puppy learn when and where to go. Here is a link to Dr. Dunbar’s Sirius Dog Training housebreaking schedule. Potty Training Puppy Schedule Use this schedule, trust us, it works!

Incorporating crate training can also be beneficial. It provides a safe space for your puppy and aids in housebreaking.

Using a bell is another effective method. It teaches your puppy to signal when they need to go outside.

This guide will cover all these methods. You'll learn how to use positive reinforcement and tackle common challenges. With the right approach, potty training can be a rewarding experience for both you and your puppy.

Why Potty Training a Puppy Matters

Potty training a puppy is essential for maintaining a clean home. Without proper training, accidents can lead to permanent odors and stains. It can also lead to frustration and confusion.

You, the human, can become frustrated with your new puppy while your puppy is confused and does not understand what you expect from him.

Beyond cleanliness and basic obedience, potty training fosters a strong bond between you and your puppy. It sets the foundation for a trusting and respectful relationship.

Training also contributes to your puppy's overall happiness. A well-trained puppy knows what is expected, reducing anxiety and stress from both you and your puppy.

Key reasons to potty train your puppy include:

● Keeping your home clean and sanitary.

● Strengthening the bond with your puppy.

● Ensuring your puppy is confident and secure.

● Having an obedient puppy with basic training

By committing to effective potty training, you are investing in a happy and well-adjusted dog. This early effort pays off with lifelong companionship and joy.

When to Start Potty Training Your Puppy

Begin potty training your puppy the moment they arrive home. Young puppies quickly adapt to routines and boundaries. Early training lays a solid foundation. Most puppies start potty training around 5 weeks old. This age aligns with their ability to understand routines. The mother will start to show the puppies where to eliminate and the breeder will also aid in the housebreaking. At 8 weeks, it is imperative to continue the potty training. Talk to your breeder, if you can, about what they did as far as the elimination area. Keep the training consistent and gentle to reinforce learning.

“There appears to be a narrow window of opportunity between 7 and 9 weeks of age for introducing house training most efficiently. Puppies started during this time tend to do much better and have far fewer accidents than puppies whose training is postponed until later. During this time, puppies develop location and substrate preferences away from their nesting area.” Steven, Lindsay Applied Dog Behavior and Training, Volume One pg. 67

Signs that your puppy is ready for potty training:

● Awareness of their environment.

● Basic understanding of commands.

● A regular eating schedule.

● You have your puppy already in home and ready to start

Training at this critical stage creates lifelong habits. Invest time early to ensure your puppy grows into a well-behaved adult dog. Patience and persistence are key, as puppies learn best from consistent and positive guidance.

Setting Up for Success: Supplies and Preparation

Proper preparation is vital for effective puppy potty training. Gather all necessary supplies before you start. This ensures a smooth training experience.

Create a checklist of essential items, including:

● A sturdy leash for outdoor trips.

● A harness or buckle collar.

● A comfortable, appropriately-sized crate.

● Tasty treats for rewarding good behavior.

● A bell to hang at the door.

Prepare a designated potty area outside. This helps your puppy associate the spot with bathroom activities. Make this area easily accessible for quick trips. Always use the same area and use a verbal cue “potty’ “go”, whatever cue you are comfortable with and reward right away.

Having these supplies ready streamlines the process. You're equipped to handle training challenges effectively. Preparation reduces stress and promotes consistency. With the right tools at hand, you boost your puppy's chances of success. Patience combined with preparation leads to an efficient and positive potty training journey.

Creating a Potty Training Schedule

Establishing a routine is key to potty training success. A structured schedule helps your puppy learn when and where to go. Consistency breeds confidence and reliability in young dogs.

Start by taking your puppy out first thing in the morning. Follow up with regular potty breaks throughout the day. This consistency reinforces their bathroom habits.

Here's a sample schedule to follow:

● Morning: Immediately after waking.

● Every hour or every other hour

● After meals: About 10-15 minutes post feeding.

● Every hour or every other hour.

● Before bed: Last thing at night.

Adjust the schedule as your puppy grows and their control improves. You might initially need breaks every one to two hours. Gradually extend the time as your puppy matures.

Consistency within your routine helps your puppy develop a strong habit. Use a specific command word like “go potty” to strengthen understanding. Reward your puppy immediately when they succeed.

Additionally, watching for cues is important. Signs like sniffing or circling indicate a need to go. An adaptable schedule caters to your puppy's unique needs, making training efficient. Through patience and a well-structured schedule, housebreaking becomes an attainable goal.

Using Positive Reinforcement with Potty Training

Positive reinforcement is an effective strategy in potty training a puppy. Rewarding good behavior encourages your puppy to repeat it in the future. This method involves using treats, toys and praise to show your dog they've done well.

When your puppy successfully potties outside, immediately reward them. Timely rewards strengthen the connection between the behavior and the reward. Enthusiastic praise is just as important as tasty treats.

Consider the following list of reinforcement methods:

● Offer a small, tasty treat.

● Give verbal praise with a cheerful tone.

● Affection, like petting or a brief play session.

The key is to be consistent with your rewards to establish clear communication. Avoid punishing accidents, as it can cause fear and confusion. Positive reinforcement encourages confidence and helps your puppy learn quickly. Stay patient and persistent, as consistent rewards will yield lasting results.

Crate Training and Potty Training: How They Work Together

Crate training is a valuable ally in potty training a puppy. Dogs naturally avoid soiling their sleeping space, which makes a crate a useful tool. Proper crate training can help your puppy develop bladder control.

Begin by selecting the right crate size. It should be spacious enough for your puppy to stand, turn, and lie down. However, it should not be so large that they can eliminate in one corner and nap in the other corner.

Here's how to effectively use crate training:

● Introduce the crate as a positive space.

● Start with short crate sessions and gradually extend time.

● Always let your puppy out for bathroom breaks.

● Introduce a Kong toy with a meal partially frozen in the crate

Establishing a crate routine is crucial. Ensure your puppy spends enough time outside the crate for exercise and potty breaks. A regular schedule helps them know when to anticipate potty trips, reducing accidents.

Consider these additional crate training tips:

● Place the crate in a quiet yet accessible area.

● Never use the crate as punishment.

● Keep crate time positive with toys or blankets.

● Introduce a Kong toy while in crate, use for a meal

● Watch our choice video on Kong toys and crate/potty/boredom training ● The Surprising Way Kong Toys Can CHANGE Your Dog's Life

By combining crate training with a consistent schedule and positive reinforcement, you can create a solid foundation for effective potty training. Your puppy will learn to associate going outside with bathroom breaks, helping them become house-trained.

Potty Training a Puppy with a Bell: Step-by-Step Guide

Training a puppy to use a bell for potty breaks is an innovative method. It teaches them to signal their need to go outside. This simple tool can be highly effective when used consistently.

Steps to Bell Training:

1. Choose a Suitable Bell : Select a bell that produces a distinct sound. Ensure it's reachable for your puppy.

2. Introduce the Bell : Every time you take your puppy out, gently ring the bell. Use a command like "bell" or “outside”.

3. Encourage Interaction : Hold a treat near the bell. When your puppy shows interest or nudges it, reward them immediately.

Practice and Patience

Training takes patience, so repeat this process consistently. Each time your puppy rings the bell, take them outside promptly. This reinforces the connection between the bell and going outdoors for potty.

Tips for Success:

● Be Consistent : Use the bell routine without fail, even on weekends.

● Positive Reinforcement : Reward your puppy every time they successfully ring the bell. ● Celebrate Small Wins : Acknowledge each successful ring with praise and a treat.

Avoid Common Mistakes

● Don’t allow playtime after ringing; this confuses the purpose.

● Ensure everyone in the household follows the same training steps.

● Don’t move the bell around the house, leave it in the same spot

By incorporating a bell into your potty training routine, you're providing your puppy with a clear way to communicate their needs. This encourages independence and reduces accidents indoors.

Troubleshooting Common Potty Training Problems

Even with a solid plan, challenges can arise during potty training. It's vital to address them calmly and constructively.

Handling Accidents

Accidents are a part of the process. Instead of getting upset, clean thoroughly to prevent repeat behavior. Use products specifically designed to eliminate odors. An effective enzyme cleaner is necessary, we recommend.

Inconsistent Progress

Sometimes a puppy might seem confused, leading to inconsistent progress. Check if everyone in the household uses the same commands and rewards. Consistent actions improve understanding. It is very helpful to have the potty schedule in a central area where everyone in the house can see it. We suggest leaving it posted on the refrigerator or by the door with the bell. Communicate with everyone in the house so everyone is on the same page.

Nighttime Struggles

Nighttime accidents are common as puppies struggle with longer stretches. Ensure potty breaks before bedtime and consider reducing late-night water intake. Be patient as this might take time to correct.

Solutions to Common Issues:

● Frequent Accidents : Increase the frequency of potty breaks.

● Reluctance to Go Outside : Praise and reward outdoor outings.

● Refusal to Use the Crate : Make the crate a positive space with toys and treats.

By staying consistent and patient, you can overcome these hurdles. Remember, every setback is a learning opportunity for both you and your puppy. Keep your training adaptable to your puppy’s progress.

Frequently Asked Questions About Housebreaking a Puppy

Housebreaking a puppy often comes with a set of common questions. Here are some insights into typical concerns new puppy owners may have.

How Long Does Potty Training Take?

Potty training duration varies. Depending on consistency and the puppy’s age, it might take weeks or even months. Each puppy learns at its own pace, so patience is key. If the schedule is followed it should take about 2-3 weeks but there can be setbacks which are not uncommon.

What if My Puppy Keeps Having Accidents?

Accidents are to be expected. If they persist, revisit your potty training schedule. Evaluate if changes in diet or environment might be contributing factors.

How Do I Know When My Puppy Needs to Go?

Recognize signs like sniffing or circling. Puppies often need to relieve themselves after meals, playtime, or naps.

Quick Tips:

● Start Early : Begin training as soon as your puppy arrives.

● Be Patient : Every puppy is unique; progress may vary.

● Stay Consistent : Stick to a regular routine for best results.

These answers provide a starting point for managing typical training questions. Adjust and adapt your approach as needed for successful housebreaking.

Final Tips for Potty Training Success

Embarking on your puppy's potty training journey can be challenging. However, with perseverance and the right strategies, it can also be rewarding. Here are some final considerations to enhance your training experience.

Focus on creating a supportive environment for your puppy. This involves using a consistent routine and maintaining a calm demeanor to foster a sense of security.

Key Tips:

● Stay Positive : Encourage progress with rewards.

● Keep Consistent : Follow a schedule daily.

● Adapt as Needed : Tailor your approach based on your puppy's growth and needs.

● Use the Sirius Puppy Housebreaking Schedule

● Perfect Potty Puppy Plan

Remember, patience is crucial. Celebrate each step forward and keep your training consistent for lasting success.

Master Service Dog Training: DIY Guide To Train Your Own Service Dog

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 19:35:55 GMT

Training your own service dog is a rewarding journey. It requires dedication, patience, and a deep understanding of dog training techniques. Many people wonder if they can train their own service dog. The answer is yes, but it involves a significant commitment.

Service dogs perform tasks to assist individuals with disabilities. They must be well-trained and reliable in various environments. Not all dogs are suitable for this role, so choosing the right dog is crucial.

This guide will explore the steps and considerations involved in service dog training. We'll cover essential techniques, legal aspects, and tips for success. Whether you're a dog owner or training enthusiast, this article will provide valuable insights.

What Is a Service Dog and Who Needs One?

A service dog is specially trained to perform tasks that assist individuals with disabilities. Their role is crucial in enhancing the quality of life for their handlers. Service dogs are required to perform at a minimum two tasks to aid their handler.

Service dogs can guide those with visual impairments or alert deaf individuals to sounds. They can also assist with physical tasks, providing mobility support to those with physical disabilities. Service dogs might aid with psychiatric tasks by detecting anxiety attacks.

People with various disabilities benefit from service dogs. Some include individuals with:

● Visual impairments

● Hearing impairments

● Physical disabilities

● Psychiatric conditions

● Invisible disabilities

● Rare conditions

● Diabetics

The tasks these dogs perform allow their handlers more independence in daily life. It's important to understand the specific needs of the individual to tailor the training accordingly. The bond between a service dog and handler is built on trust and mutual respect, ensuring a successful partnership.

Service Dog vs. Therapy Dog: Key Differences

While both service and therapy dogs are beneficial, they serve different roles. Understanding these differences is crucial for selecting the right type of assistance.

Service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks for individuals with disabilities. These tasks help mitigate their handler's disability and support daily functioning. Service dogs accompany their handlers everywhere, including public spaces, under the ADA.

Therapy dogs, on the other hand, are not service animals. They provide comfort and emotional support, often in settings like hospitals or schools. Their primary role is to improve emotional well-being rather than perform task-specific assistance.

Key Differences:

● Service dogs perform specific tasks.

● Therapy dogs offer comfort and emotional support.

● Service dogs have broader access rights under the ADA.

● Therapy dogs volunteer in community settings, not for a specific handler. ● Service dogs are required to perform 2 specific tasks to their handler’s disability. ● Tasks training can range from using an emergency phone to finding medication.

These distinctions guide both the training and the expectations of these working dogs.

Can You Train Your Own Service Dog? Legal and Practical Considerations

Training your own service dog is entirely possible and legally supported. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) a llows individuals to train their service dogs independently. This flexibility can be beneficial for those who prefer a personal approach. Most trainers like 300 hours of training in a public setting to assure the dog’s ability to train under any stressful or unanticipated situation.

However, this task requires considerable dedication, time, and expertise. Not all dogs possess the qualities necessary for service work. Therefore, it's vital to evaluate your dog's temperament and health before proceeding.

Before starting, familiarize yourself with legal requirements and rights in your state. Knowing these can help prevent access issues in public settings. The laws differ from state to state.

“The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.” (ADA Requirements February 28, 2020)

Considerations for Owner-Training:

● Ensure your dog can perform disability-mitigating tasks.

● Research ADA requirements and local laws.

● Assess your dog's temperament and health.

● Plan for consistent, long-term training efforts.

● Look for an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator

● Pass the AKC Puppy STAR and AKC CGC

By understanding these considerations, you can make informed decisions about owner-training a service dog. This knowledge helps in creating a beneficial partnership between you and your dog.

Is Your Dog Suitable for Service Dog Training?

Before starting service dog training, it's crucial to evaluate your dog's suitability. Not every dog is cut out for this role.

A suitable service dog must exhibit a calm temperament. They need to handle stress well and react positively in various environments. Health is also a major factor. A service dog should be in excellent physical condition to perform their duties effectively.

Here are key traits to assess:

● Temperament: Calm, focused, and non-aggressive.

● Acceptance of all types of different people, ages, races.

● Willingness to ignore other animals especially other dogs.

● Health: Free from chronic illnesses or debilitating conditions.

● Size and Strength: Capable of performing required tasks.

These considerations ensure the dog can meet the demands of service work and support their handler's needs.

Essential Dog Training Techniques for Service Dogs

Training a service dog involves mastering fundamental skills. These techniques form the backbone of effective service dog training.

First, basic obedience is crucial. Your dog must reliably follow commands. Key obedience commands include:

● Sit

● Wait

● Come

● Heel

● Loose Leash Walk

● Touch

● Look

● Down

● Place

Next, focus on task-specific training. The dog should perform tasks that mitigate your disability. Identify tasks that will specifically aid your daily life.

Positive reinforcement works wonders in training. Reward desired behavior with treats, praise, or play. Consistency is crucial. Stick to routines and commands to reinforce learning.

Incorporate socialization into training. Exposure to different environments helps your dog remain calm and focused. Service dogs must adapt to various settings and stimuli effortlessly.

Lastly, work on distraction-proofing your dog. Service dogs should focus on tasks amid distractions. Techniques to maintain focus include:

● Gradual exposure to distractions

● Practicing tasks in noisy or busy environments

● Reinforcing focus with rewards

These techniques collectively enhance your dog's skills and readiness to serve you effectively. Step-by-Step Guide to Training Your Own Service Dog

Training your own service dog is a rewarding journey. It strengthens your bond while empowering you with a capable companion.

1. Evaluate Your Dog's Suitability

Not all dogs are fit for service tasks. Assess their temperament, health, and energy levels. Look for dogs that are friendly, eager to learn, and not easily stressed.

2. Begin with Basic Obedience

Set a foundation with essential obedience commands. Practice "sit," "stay," "come," and "heel." A solid obedience base is crucial for advanced training.

3. Focus on Service Tasks

Identify specific tasks your dog should perform. Tailor training to your unique needs. Common tasks include:

● Guiding the visually impaired

● Alerting to alarms or sounds

● Retrieving essential medical items

● Detecting high or low blood sugar

● Early recognition of migraine headache

● Reminding handler to take medication

● Locating help if someone has fallen or had seizure

● Grounding handler when experiencing PTSD episode

● Finding exit if handler is having anxiety attack

● Keeping space between handler and strangers

● This list can go on and on, we are just naming a few of many

4. Socialization is Key

Expose your dog to various environments and people. Ensure they remain calm in public settings. Well-socialized dogs adapt better to different situations.

5. Gradually Introduce Task Training

Begin incorporating task-specific training slowly. Break each task into manageable steps. Celebrate small victories as your dog progresses.

6. Public Access Training

Ensure your dog behaves well in public. Practice in places like stores, parks, or transport systems. This exposure ensures readiness in real-world scenarios. The Public Access Test can be taken but an approved evaluator.

7. Regular Evaluation

Monitor progress frequently. Adjust your techniques as needed. If a strategy isn't working, don't hesitate to try another approach.

8. Seek Support When Needed

If challenges arise, consider professional guidance. Experienced trainers can provide valuable tips and support. Collaboration often leads to better outcomes.

By following these steps, you pave the way for a competent and reliable service dog. Each step brings you closer to having a perfectly trained assistant by your side.

Socialization and Public Access Training

Socialization is essential for service dogs to thrive in varied settings. From a young age, introduce your dog to new people, places, and experiences. This exposure helps them remain calm and focused, even in crowded or noisy environments.

Public Access Training ensures your dog behaves appropriately in public places. Practice commands in real-world settings regularly. Aim for consistent behavior, regardless of distractions.

Focus on the following elements:

● Calmness in different scenarios

● Ability to ignore distractions

● Appropriate behavior in public

Regular outings and varied scenarios bolster confidence and competence. With patience, your dog will become a well-mannered partner capable of assisting you effectively.

Common Service Dog Tasks and How to Teach Them

Service dogs perform various tasks to aid their handlers. Each task should cater to the specific needs of the handler. Training these tasks requires patience and consistency.

Start with simple commands and gradually increase complexity. Use positive reinforcement to encourage desired behaviors. Some tasks involve multiple steps, requiring careful breakdown and practice.

Here are common service dog tasks:

● Retrieving objects

● Opening doors

● Turning on lights

● Grounding the handler

● Guiding the visually impaired

● Alerting to specific sounds

● Providing stability or balance

Customize training to fit your dog's capabilities and your needs. Regular practice helps reinforce learned behaviors. Celebrate small victories to maintain motivation for both you and your dog. With dedication, your dog can reliably perform important tasks, enhancing your day-to-day life.

Tips for Success and When to Seek Professional Help

Training a service dog can be demanding yet rewarding. Stay patient and celebrate every progress with your dog. Always be consistent in your training sessions.

Maintain a positive attitude, and ensure sessions are fun for both parties. This helps maintain the dog's interest and enthusiasm. Know when to seek professional help if challenges arise.

Consider contacting professionals if you encounter:

● Behavioral issues

● Difficulty in teaching complex tasks

● Lack of progress over time

● AKC Puppy STAR and AKC CGC Evaluator

Professional trainers offer valuable advice and support. They can guide you through tricky parts of the training process, ensuring continued success and growth.

Frequently Asked Questions About Owner-Trained Service Dogs

People often have questions about owner-trained service dogs. One common query is about the legality of owner-trained dogs. The ADA allows individuals to train their own service dogs as long as they perform specific tasks that aid the handler.

Another question revolves around public access rights. Service dogs, whether professionally or owner-trained, have the same rights under the ADA. Some frequently asked questions include:

● What tasks does the service dog perform?

● Do service dogs need special identification?

● How long does training typically take?

● Do I have to buy a dog from an organization?

● Can I use my own dog?

● What is the best breed for a service dog?

Understanding these aspects can help clarify any uncertainties about owner-trained service dogs. Naples Top Dogs can answer any of these questions.

Conclusion: Is Training Your Own Service Dog Right for You?

Training your own service dog can be a fulfilling journey. It requires patience, dedication, and a deep understanding of your dog's needs. This path is not for everyone, considering the commitment involved.

However, for many, the effort strengthens the bond between handler and dog. Weigh the pros and cons carefully before deciding. If it suits your lifestyle and needs, the rewards of an owner-trained service dog can be tremendous. With the right approach, it enhances both your independence and companionship.

From pet to partner, we are here for you and your dog, if you need us, along your journey.

Best Dog Trainer in Naples

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 13:42:07 GMT

Finding the best dog trainer in Naples can transform your pet's behavior and your relationship. A well-trained dog is not only a joy to have but also a safer companion. In Naples, dog owners have access to a variety of training services. These range from basic obedience to specialized behavior modification.

Choosing the right trainer is crucial. It ensures that your dog receives the best care and guidance. Positive reinforcement is a popular method among top trainers. It focuses on rewarding good behavior, making learning enjoyable for dogs. Whether you have a new puppy or an older dog, training is essential. It helps in building a strong bond and understanding between you and your pet. The right trainer will tailor their approach to suit your dog's unique needs. This personalized attention can make a significant difference in training outcomes.

In this guide, we'll explore what makes a dog trainer exceptional. We'll also provide tips on finding the best dog trainer near you in Naples. By the end, you'll be equipped with the knowledge to make an informed decision. Your journey to a well-behaved dog starts here.

Why Professional Dog Training Matters in Naples

Professional dog training is vital for both owners and their pets in Naples. It ensures dogs are well-behaved, safe, and happy. Naples offers many distractions and opportunities for dogs to exhibit negative behaviors. Professional trainers can address these issues effectively. Training not only improves behavior but also enhances a dog’s quality of life. It opens doors to socialization and new experiences.

Here’s why professional training is important:

● Ensures safety in public spaces

● Increases obedience and control

● Promotes social skills with other dogs and humans

Trainers understand the specific challenges of different environments. They provide strategies tailored to these unique situations. Moreover, training strengthens the bond between you and your dog. It creates a foundation of mutual respect and understanding. Incorporating training early can prevent future issues. The right trainer will guide you through challenges and help set realistic goals. Ultimately, professional dog training creates a harmonious environment in your household. It’s an investment that pays off in countless ways.

Key Qualities of the Best Dog Trainers

Finding the best dog trainer involves knowing what to look for. The right trainer makes a huge difference in your dog's behavior and happiness. Experience and certification are critical when choosing a trainer. This ensures they have the knowledge to handle various situations. Effective trainers possess excellent communication skills. They need to convey instructions clearly to both dogs and owners.

Consider these qualities when choosing a trainer:

● Patience and understanding

● Proven success with various breeds

● Uses humane and ethical training methods

Personalized attention is another key quality. Different dogs have different needs, and a tailored approach works best. Look for trainers who engage with your dog positively. Enthusiasm and encouragement can make training a fun experience for your pet. Lastly, testimonials can reveal a lot about a trainer's reputation. Satisfied clients and well-trained dogs are indicators of a competent trainer. Assess these key qualities to find the perfect trainer for your furry friend.

Positive Reinforcement: The Gold Standard in Dog Training

Positive reinforcement is a powerful tool in dog training. It focuses on rewarding good behavior rather than punishing bad behavior. This approach strengthens the bond between you and your dog. It's built on trust and mutual respect, resulting in a happier pet. Dogs trained with positive reinforcement learn commands more quickly. They are eager to repeat behaviors that bring rewards.

The benefits of positive reinforcement include:

● Boosted dog confidence and willingness to learn

● Strengthened owner-dog relationship

● Enhanced ability to resolve behavioral issues

Positive reinforcement can take many forms, like treats, praise, or playtime. The key is consistency and timing to reinforce actions effectively. Implementing this method sets a foundation for long-term success. It empowers dogs to think and act positively in various situations. Trainers who specialize in this technique often see remarkable transformations in behavior. They encourage owners to participate in the process actively. This creates a supportive environment essential for growth and progress.

Types of Dog Training Services Available in Naples

Naples offers a diverse range of dog training services. Each caters to different needs and preferences for dogs and their owners. Understanding these services can help you make informed choices.

Basic Obedience Training: This type covers essential commands like sit, stay, and come. It's perfect for new dog owners aiming to instill good behavior early on.

Specialized Training: Services such as agility, service dog, or therapy dog training fall under this category. These require a more tailored approach, often incorporating specific skill sets.

Behavioral Training : This addresses specific issues, such as aggression or anxiety. It’s often recommended for dogs with a history of problematic behavior.

Puppy Training: Focused on socializing puppies, this service establishes good habits from a young age.

Group Classes and Private Sessions: Available for those seeking a shared community learning experience or personalized one-on-one training. Each option has its unique advantages, allowing flexibility based on schedules and learning preferences. Knowing what's available can simplify the decision-making process. Naples' range of services caters to any requirement, whether for basic obedience or specialized needs. Choosing the right training path ensures a harmonious relationship with your dog.

How to Find the Best Dog Trainer Near You

Locating the best dog trainer near you involves diligent research. The right trainer can make a significant difference in your dog's behavior and your satisfaction as an owner. Start by seeking recommendations from fellow dog owners. Local vets and pet stores often have insights into the reputable trainers in your area. Word-of-mouth referrals can be invaluable. Next, conduct online research. Read reviews and testimonials on platforms like Yelp or Google. Look for consistent positive feedback and specific success stories that relate to your needs. When narrowing down potential trainers, consider these key criteria:

● Certification and Experience: Ensure the trainer is certified and has extensive experience.

● Training Philosophy: Verify they use positive reinforcement methods. ● Flexible Programs: Check if they offer various training packages.

● Trial Consultation: See if they provide an initial consultation to assess compatibility. Meeting potential trainers in person is crucial. A face-to-face interaction will allow you to gauge their approach and communication style. Trust your instincts and choose someone who aligns with your goals.

Puppy Training: Setting the Foundation for Success

Puppy training is essential for developing good habits early. It lays the groundwork for a well-behaved adult dog. Starting young allows for easier behavior molding. Introducing a puppy to the basics like sit, stay, and come fosters obedience. Early training also helps in socialization. Puppies learn how to interact with other dogs and people. A dedicated puppy trainer is invaluable. They tailor programs to suit young dogs' attention spans. The right trainer will incorporate playful methods that keep your puppy engaged. Important components of a puppy training program may include:

● Basic Commands: Teaching sit, stay, come, and leash walking.

● Socialization: Exposure to different environments and stimuli.

● House Training: Creating a routine for bathroom habits.

● Behavioral Guidance: Addressing nipping and jumping tendencies.

Puppyhood is a brief period, crucial for instilling lasting habits. With structured training, your pup

gains confidence and learns to trust you. This investment pays dividends as your puppy matures into a balanced and happy companion.

Group Classes vs. Private Sessions: Which Is Right for Your Dog?

Choosing between group classes and private sessions depends on your dog's needs. Each option offers distinct advantages and experiences. Understanding both will guide you to the best decision for your pet.

Group classes are ideal for dogs needing social skills. They interact with various personalities, enhancing their confidence. Plus, these classes can often be more budget-friendly. Private sessions, on the other hand, allow for personalized attention. Trainers can focus on specific issues your dog faces. This option is useful for dogs with behavioral problems requiring one-on-one guidance.

Considerations when choosing between group classes and private sessions include:

● Socialization Needs: Does your dog interact well with other dogs?

● Behavioral Challenges: Are there specific issues needing focused attention?

● Budget Constraints: Which option aligns with your financial plan?

● Time Availability: Can you commit to fixed schedules or need flexibility?

Assessing these factors helps determine which setting benefits your dog most, promoting effective learning and growth.

What to Expect: The Dog Training Process Explained

Dog training is a journey, not a one-time fix. Understanding the process helps set realistic expectations. Here's what typically unfolds during a training program. The first step is an assessment of your dog's behavior. Trainers observe to identify specific areas needing attention. This assessment helps create a tailored training plan. Sessions are structured to build basic commands first. Your dog will learn to sit, stay, and come through consistent practice. Over time, more complex behaviors are introduced. Monitoring progress is crucial to the process. Trainers adjust methods to suit your dog's unique learning style. Flexibility ensures ongoing improvement and adaptation.

Typical training milestones include:

● Week 1-3: Basic commands and establishing routines.

● Week 4-6: Improvement in response and adapting lessons.

● Week 7+ : Reinforcement of learned commands and assessing long-term success. Each milestone signals progress and adapts to maintain momentum. Both trainers and dog owners work collaboratively, ensuring success and a more fulfilling relationship with your pet.

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Dog Trainer

Choosing a dog trainer requires careful consideration to ensure the best fit. Start by asking about their training philosophy. Understanding their approach, whether it involves positive reinforcement or another method, is essential for aligning with your values. Inquire about the trainer's experience and certifications. Experienced trainers with relevant credentials often deliver better results. Their background should reflect a commitment to

continuing education and evolving methodologies.

Additionally, seek information about their success stories and references. Client testimonials provide insight into the trainer’s effectiveness and satisfaction rates. A reliable trainer should readily offer this information.

Here's a list of crucial questions to ask:

● What training methods do you use?

● Can you provide references or testimonials?

● What certifications do you hold?

● How do you measure training success?

These questions help ensure you choose a trainer who meets your needs and expectations. They also set the stage for a fruitful partnership between you, your dog, and the trainer.

Red Flags to Watch Out for in Dog Training Services

When evaluating dog training services, certain red flags should raise concern. Beware of trainers who rely excessively on negative reinforcement methods. Such approaches can harm your pet's well-being and affect their behavior negatively in the long run.

Additionally, avoid trainers who promise overly quick results. Effective training requires time and patience to ensure lasting behavioral changes. Trainers making guarantees for rapid success may use questionable methods.

Here's a quick rundown of red flags to be cautious about:

● Lack of certifications or accreditations.

● Use of harsh training tools (e.g., shock collars).

● Refusal to share client testimonials.

Being aware of these signals can safeguard your dog and ensure a positive training experience. Remember, your pet's safety and happiness are paramount.

Real Client Success Stories from Naples

Testimonials from satisfied pet owners in Naples highlight the transformative impact of quality dog training. These stories not only showcase the skills of the trainers but also the positive outcomes for both dogs and their owners.

Consider the case of a once-anxious Labrador who, after undergoing professional training, became calm and well-mannered. The owner's satisfaction was evident, describing the dog as more confident and social with others.

Other success stories speak to improvements in communication between dogs and owners. For instance, a family with a high-energy puppy reported fewer behavioral issues and a strong bond formed through training.

Highlights from Naples' client success stories include:

● An aggressive dog becoming sociable and friendly.

● Puppies learning essential commands with ease.

● Family pets achieving behavioral harmony at home.

These narratives underline the effectiveness of experienced and dedicated trainers in Naples. Investing in the right dog training service can yield such rewarding outcomes.

Maintaining Progress: Tips for Ongoing Training at Home

Sustaining your dog's training progress at home is crucial for long-term success. Consistency is key; regular practice helps reinforce learned behaviors and commands. Dedicate short sessions daily to keep training effective and engaging. Incorporating training into everyday activities can make a big difference. Use walks, playtime, and meals as opportunities to strengthen commands and behaviors. Keep the atmosphere positive and rewarding to maintain your dog's interest.

Here are some practical tips for ongoing training at home:

● Practice commands during routine activities.

● Use rewards and praise consistently.

● Keep sessions short but frequent.

● Stay patient and persistent.

● Monitor and adjust techniques as needed.

Consistency and patience will ensure your dog continues to thrive and retain their training.

Conclusion: Choosing the Best Dog Trainer Naples Has to Offer

Selecting the right dog trainer is crucial for your pet’s development. The right professional can make a significant impact on your dog's behavior and your relationship with your pet. It's vital to consider factors such as the trainer’s experience, positive reinforcement methods, and client testimonials.

By carefully evaluating options and asking the right questions, you can find a trainer that meets your needs. Ensuring the trainer aligns with your training goals will help foster a happy, well-behaved dog. Invest in a professional who values your pet's well-being and training success.

Essential Tips for Successful Puppy Potty Training

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 00:46:09 GMT

Potty training your puppy is a crucial step in their development. It sets the foundation for a harmonious home life. A well-trained puppy is a joy to have around — and can grow into a well-behaved adult dog.

Starting early is key. The sooner you begin, the quicker your puppy will learn. Consistency and patience are your best allies in this journey.

Positive potty-training methods build trust and strengthen your bond. Using treats and praise encourages good behavior.

Understanding your puppy's needs is essential. Recognizing their signals helps prevent accidents. A structured schedule can make all the difference.

Every puppy is unique! Tailor your approach to their personality and remember — a good breeder often starts this foundation early.

Why Potty Training Your Puppy Matters

Potty training isn’t just about cleanliness — it’s about setting the stage for all future training.

An untrained puppy can cause stress, damage floors and furniture, and even put their health at risk. Consistent potty training:

Reduces stress for both you and your puppy
Prevents property damage
Promotes good hygiene and health
Builds a strong, healthy relationship
Reduces the risk of re-homing

When to Start Potty Training

Start the moment your puppy comes home. Puppies learn routines quickly when young.

Best times to begin:

Immediately upon arrival
When they’re alert and energetic
When you can supervise consistently

Early training = fewer accidents + faster success.

Understanding Your Puppy’s Signals

Watch for these cues:

Sniffing around
Circling one area
Sneaking away
Whining or barking unexpectedly

Act quickly to link outside trips with relief. Keep a journal of successes and accidents to track patterns.

Setting Up for Success

Tools you’ll need:

Designated outdoor potty spot
Sturdy leash
Crate for training
Playpen for supervision
Enzymatic cleaner
High-value treats

Keep the potty spot consistent — your bathroom doesn’t move, and neither should theirs.

Creating a Training Schedule

Puppies have small bladders — frequent breaks are necessary!

Sample schedule:

First thing in the morning
15–30 min after meals
Every 1–2 hrs depending on size
Before bedtime

Positive Potty-Training Methods

Reward immediately after success
Use a potty cue like “Job”
Mix treats, praise, and playtime as rewards
Keep a success & accident log

Patience is key — some puppies catch on quickly, others need more time.

Step-by-Step Guide

Keep a consistent routine
Always use the same potty spot
Add a verbal cue
Reward immediately
Handle accidents calmly

Handling Accidents

Stay calm — no punishment
Clean thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner (Rocco & Roxie recommended)
Review your schedule for missed cues

Crate Training & Confinement

Choose the right size crate
Introduce it positively
Use for naps & sleep
Pair with regular potty breaks

Also, use playpens, baby gates, or tethering for supervision.

Troubleshooting Common Challenges

Common problems & solutions:

Inconsistent behavior → Stick to a set schedule
Regression → Go back to basics
Weather issues → Gradual outdoor exposure
Frequent accidents → Vet check for UTI

Adjusting for Breed & Personality

Independent breeds → More patience, extra rewards
Eager-to-please breeds → Consistency works best
Sensitive pups → Calm, supportive environment

Tracking Progress

Keep a potty journal:

Record times & locations
Adjust as needed
Celebrate small wins

FAQs

How long does it take?
Usually, a few weeks to a couple of months.

What if accidents happen often?
Review your schedule & signals — and consider professional help if needed.

Conclusion

Potty training your puppy is a journey of patience, consistency, and love. Celebrate the little victories, stay positive, and enjoy watching your puppy grow into a confident, happy dog.

Puppy Training 101 Tips From Naples Top Dogs

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 18:35:55 GMT

Start Training Early

Puppies start learning from the moment they open their eyes. The sooner you begin training, the easier it is to build good habits.

Quick tips:

Begin at 8 weeks old (or as soon as you bring your pup home).
Keep sessions short (5–10 minutes).
Be consistent with commands and routines.

Focus on Positive Reinforcement

Forget yelling – dogs learn better with love and praise. Every time your puppy does something right, reward them immediately. Never yell or physically reprimand your puppy.

Reward ideas:

Tasty treats (tiny, soft, and easy to chew, less is more)
Verbal praise ("Yes")
Tug toy
Toss a ball
Extra playtime or belly rubs

Potty Training: Be Patient, Be Consistent

Take your puppy outside every 1–2 hours. Praise and reward them every time they go outside. Never punish verbally or physically.

Crate training is essential to potty training. Please see Naples Top Dogs’ article on crate training and free download on crate training.

If your puppy has an accident, clean it up and use an enzymic cleaner to remove urine/feces stains.

Teach Basic Commands

Teaching your puppy a few essential commands gives them structure – and keeps them safe and keeps you sane.

Sit
Wait
Recall (Come)
Leave it
Down

Socialize Early and Often

Expose them to people, other dogs, sounds, and new environments between 3 and 14 weeks of age. The socialization period cut-off for puppies is about 18 weeks of age, so it’s imperative to start early and positively.

Ideas:

Puppy playdates
Walks in the park
Visits to the pet store
Visits to the vet

Don’t Skip Leash Training

Leash training is a must. Start indoors and in a quiet space. Do not start outside with all the distractions and smells – it’s too much and too soon.

Leash tips:

Use a harness for better control
Keep walks short at first
Bring your treats, ball, tug toy
Stop walking if they pull – reward when they walk beside you

When in Doubt, Ask a Pro

Professional trainers or puppy classes can make a big difference, especially if your puppy is showing signs of shyness. If you notice that your puppy is "shy," contact a professional trainer immediately.

Conclusion

Training your puppy won’t happen overnight, but with patience, consistency, and love, you’ll build a strong bond that lasts a lifetime.

Ready to Train Smarter?
Need help getting started or facing some puppy challenges?
We’re here to help! Contact Naples Top Dogs today and let’s build a plan that works for you and your pup.
Let’s make training fun, positive, and effective — together!

When Pigs Could Fly

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 17:15:02 GMT

The Ins and Outs of Flying With Your Dog

Naples Top Dogs receives a few phone calls per week to assist with recent changes made by airlines effective April 2021. This is regarding the use and updates of emotional support animals and service animals on flights. It seems like most airlines caught on to some of the abuse of the Air Carrier Access Act or ACAA written in 1986.

Some airlines face serious lawsuits, a man mauled by a dog in Atlanta, a child mauled in California, even doctors faced serious consequences. Doctors face this scrutiny by signing off on medical paperwork supporting their clients' need for an emotional support animal. Perhaps the doctors did not realize what they were signing off on.

Pre-pandemic news would cover another wild story weekly, sometimes daily about an emotional support animal on a flight. One passenger made headlines when he refused to exit the aircraft with his emotional support animal, a squirrel. The peacock made major headlines in Newark when its owner attempted to board the flight then drove across the country after being refused. Delta, American Airlines and United Airlines just made it known to the public that week the major changes to their policies.

Dogs and even cats do help people that are anxious on flights and flying for those can be a daunting task. This abuse did cost many people harm that truly need an emotional support animal and those legitimate service dogs. This abuse happened for many reasons, especially the sale of reptiles and birds. So now many of the airlines have tightened their policies on what animal, species and size of animal.

The ADA only recognizes dogs and ponies as emotional support animals. So what happens next? The service and emotional support animals that are task trained, received their Canine Good Citizenships, are well-behaved and provide a medical necessity to the handler. Some of those dogs and handlers are not making it on their flights or even asked to un-board flights. Naples Top Dogs understands the need for true service and emotional support animals and will continue training them.

Adopting a Dog During the Pandemic

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 14:44:28 GMT

Should I Get a Puppy During Lockdown?

Thinking of getting a pandemic puppy? The pandemic has definitely affected our nation in more ways than one.

Puppy sales, adoptions and rescues have reported huge increases in sales and placements. Listed are a few pros and cons of getting a pandemic puppy. Naples Top Dogs are receiving multiple calls or training requests daily but we would like to point out that adding a new puppy during these uncertain times requires a lot of thought.

Socialization period is critical for puppies 6 to 18 weeks. With social distancing, stay at home orders and overall fear of possibly contracting Covid-19, socializing your puppy could be difficult. Introducing your new puppy to the outside world is imperative at this young age.
Puppies are a lot of work. Puppies require constant supervision, potty training, mental and physical care. With most of our children taking classes virtually, a new puppy could add stress to an already stressful time.
Puppies are expensive. Wellness vet visits, licensing, insurance, grooming, dental hygiene, spaying and/or neutering, pet supplies, training and food can add up quickly. An emergency vet visit could be in the thousands. Plan on the costs of bringing a new puppy home.

On a positive note, puppies are fantastic and awesome. Filling an emotional void by bringing a new puppy home is a huge commitment. It is a fact that dogs can reduce stress and help us with a daily routine. A schedule is essential for successful puppy training. Exercising with your puppy is great for your puppy and yourself.

Do your research before selecting your new puppy. If you have small children in the home, a herding breed might not be the best fit. If you live in an apartment or condo, a large breed that requires lots of exercise or a small dog with a tendency to bark alot might not be suitable for your living situation. If you are an active person that enjoys working out an active breed would be an excellent companion.

Remember, a puppy quickly grows up and is a family member for ten plus years.

The Canine Good Citizenship Test

Thu, 27 Aug 2020 16:35:02 GMT

NEWS UPDATE!

Naples Top Dogs are approved Evaluator!

The Canine Good Citizenship Test is commonly referred to as "CGC" and was established in 1989. The American Kennel Club wanted to promote responsible dog ownership, get more dog owners involved with sporting events and promote training while attempting to reduce any aggression. Over the past 30 years, over one million dog owners and dogs have earned this title and gone on to do Canine Good Urban, agility, rally, tricks, obedience, dock diving, barn hunt and even therapy work. This is just to name a few of the fun activities you and your pet can do. Many dog owners consider this the foundation of training, creating a healthy bond and being a responsible pet parent. It is true that your dog does not have to be purebred to participate in this program.

There are 10 test items the dog owner and dog must pass, only one test item can be seen by the Evaluator as "needs improvement" and the dog and owner have the option to retest. If you are wondering what the 10 test items are, they are listed on www.akc.org. We would love to talk to you about the CGC as well. Many government agencies are using this test as a baseline and not breed restrictions. Insurance companies, HOA's and apartment complexes. If you have any questions regarding the Canine Good Citizenship test, please let us know and information is always available at www.akc.org .

Naples Top Dogs are approved Evaluator and love to start you and your pup in Puppy STAR!

You will always have a Top Dog!

Frequently Asked Questions About the Canine Good Citizenship Test

What exactly is the Canine Good Citizenship (CGC) test?

The CGC is a certification program established by the American Kennel Club in 1989 that evaluates dogs and their handlers on essential training and behavior standards. It serves as the foundation for responsible dog ownership and opens doors to advanced activities like agility, therapy work, and other AKC events.

Do I need a purebred dog to take the CGC test?

No, absolutely not! The Canine Good Citizenship test is open to all dogs, regardless of breed or mix. Your dog does not need to be AKC registered or purebred to participate in this program.

What are the 10 test items my dog needs to pass?

While the specific test items are detailed on the AKC website, they include basic obedience commands, accepting friendly strangers, walking on a loose leash, walking through crowds, sitting politely for petting, grooming and handling, reaction to distractions, supervised separation, and coming when called. Your dog can have one item marked as "needs improvement" and still pass.

How long does it take to prepare for the CGC test?

Preparation time varies depending on your dog's current training level and temperament. Most dogs benefit from several weeks to a few months of consistent training. Starting with the AKC Puppy STAR program can provide an excellent foundation for younger dogs before advancing to CGC.

Why are insurance companies and HOAs interested in CGC certification?

Many insurance companies, government agencies, HOAs, and apartment complexes now recognize CGC certification as a baseline for responsible pet ownership rather than implementing breed restrictions. The certification demonstrates that your dog is well-trained and properly socialized, which can help with housing applications and insurance coverage.

Can puppies take the Canine Good Citizenship test?

While there's no minimum age requirement for the CGC test, puppies should first master basic training. We recommend starting with the AKC Puppy STAR program, which is specifically designed for puppies and provides the foundational skills needed for CGC success.

What happens if my dog doesn't pass the CGC test?

Don't worry - you can retake the test! If your dog doesn't pass, the evaluator will provide feedback on areas needing improvement. You're welcome to continue training and schedule another evaluation when you and your dog feel ready.

How much does CGC testing and evaluation cost?

Testing fees vary by evaluator and location. Contact Naples Top Dogs or your local AKC-approved evaluator for specific pricing information. Investment in CGC training and testing typically pays off through improved behavior and potential savings on insurance or housing.

What opportunities become available after earning CGC certification?

CGC certification opens doors to numerous activities including Canine Good Urban, agility, rally, tricks training, obedience competitions, dock diving, barn hunt, and therapy dog work. Over one million dogs have earned this title and gone on to participate in these enriching activities.

Where can I find an approved CGC evaluator in Naples?

Naples Top Dogs is an approved CGC evaluator in the Naples area. We offer both training preparation and testing services. You can also find additional evaluators through the AKC website's evaluator search tool .

4 Tips on Finding a Pet Groomer

Fri, 10 Apr 2020 18:54:17 GMT

What Should You Look For When Hiring A Dog Groomer?

Dog grooming is an essential aspect of keeping a dog. If you do not have time to groom your dog yourself , you should hire a professional dog groomer. But before you hire one, make sure they are qualified and experienced.

Reputable and qualified dog groomers can be found online easily. In most cases, they have a handful of great reviews from previous clients. However, you should not limit your research to the online sphere only.

Here are some of the other things you should look for in addition to online reviews when hiring a dog groomer.

1. Their Grooming Salon

Before you hire a dog groomer, it is important to visit and inspect their salon. Is it clean and organized? If it is, then you might consider taking your dog to them. If the salon is unkempt and disorganized, then you should consider another dog groomer.

2. The Groomer’s Certification

In addition to inspecting a groomer’s salon, you should also ask for their certificate. A professional dog groomer should have one from a reputable institution. Also, ask for the groomer’s government issue license. A groomer with a certificate and a license has fulfilled all necessary requirements to work as a groomer.

3. The Grooming Products Used

Investigate products the groomer would use on your dog. A reputable groomer would only use 100% natural products because they are safe for your pet. An amateur pet groomer, on the other hand, would probably use chemical-heavy shampoos that can be harmful to your dog.

4. The Price of Their Services

Another factor that you should consider before hiring a dog groomer is the price of their services. Pricing usually depends on the size of your dog. Ask for a quote, and remember not all bad groomers are inexpensive, and vice versa.

To get more information about grooming and taking great care of your dog, check out the 101 Incredible Dog Facts Infographic .

Positivity Proves Scientifically to be the Most Powerful Dog Training Tool of All

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 12:04:16 GMT

Why Positive Training is the Superior Training Method

Most dogs tend naturally toward positivity, and they generally respond best to that type of feedback. Unfortunately, some dog trainers fail to account for this fact and end up relying on overly stentorian or simply negative tactics.

When it comes to choosing a dog trainer in Naples , residents will generally do well to focus on those who make a point of positivity. There are many reasons to prefer positive reinforcement dog training over other types, even if the latter might be more familiar. In fact, training that incorporates only positive feedback has become the style that most experts now recommend.

A Relatively Recent Development for an Ancient Field

Dogs were first domesticated somewhere around 15,000 years ago, and people have been training them ever since. The first domesticated dogs were probably quite wolf-like in their appearance and behaviors. That lingering wildness might have made somewhat harsh methods seem appropriate to the relatively unsophisticated people who sought to train them.

Unfortunately, that early mistake came to dominate the discipline of canine training, eventually becoming taken for granted by many trainers. Up until very recently, the common wisdom held that dogs responded best to negative reinforcement that focused on highlighting their mistakes.

By the middle of the 1980s, though, a better grounded and more productive view started to take hold. Positive Dog Training has since become the norm among informed owners and trainers alike.

Positivity Pays Off!

Choosing a Positive Dog Trainer will enable many benefits compared to opting for the traditional approach. While aversive training might initially seem effective at limiting undesirable behaviors, it has many drawbacks that are now widely recognized. Using positive reinforcement and simply not acknowledging mistakes will enable advantages related to:

Communication . Dogs aim to please their owners, but how best to do so is not always clear to them. Aversive training that relies on negative reinforcement was once thought to communicate an unambiguous message quite directly. In fact, dogs acquire a much more reliable understanding of what their owners want when positive reinforcement is used instead.
Reliability . For many years, dog trainers who relied on aversive approaches were aware that their tactics tended to become less and less effective over time. That would often mean a dog that had learned a certain amount would eventually become resistant to further improvement. The endless eagerness of dogs to make their owners and others happy, though, makes positive training much more reliable. Even dogs which seemed to hit a wall when subjected to aversive training will often make plenty of additional progress after receiving praise and encouragement.
Versatility . Like all other animals, dogs tend to react in unpleasant ways when they feel fearful or angry. The negative nature of most aversive training works against many common goals because of this unavoidable fact. Positive training, on the other hand, can be applied to achieve almost anything a dog might be capable of. That makes positivity a much more versatile tool than negative reinforcement.

A Better Way to Train Any Dog

Choosing a Dog Trainer who takes the approach of fear free, force free and who focuses solely on positive reinforcement will always be the best way to ensure a happy, well-behaved pet. Although this positive style has quickly become the preferred approach for virtually all acknowledged experts.

Whether with a young dog who needs to be brought up to speed with the basics or a mature one who could use some refinement, positivity has proven to be an especially powerful tool. Dog owners who look into the matter almost inevitably come away happy and satisfied that their beloved pets can be trained without the use of any fear, force or dominance.

Best Regard Positivity Proves to be the Most Powerful Dog Training Tool of All

Choosing a Dog Trainer who takes the approach of a Behaviorist and who focuses solely on positive reinforcement will almost always be the best way to ensure a happy, well-behaved pet. Although this positive style of training has a relatively short history in the grand scheme of things, it has quickly become the preferred approach for virtually all acknowledged experts.

What is Fido Saying?

Thu, 20 Feb 2020 19:56:45 GMT

Learn the different types of dog body language!

Not many of us speak dog and I have never met a dog that speaks English or any other human language. So how do you know what your dog is saying to you? Anthropomorphism, the relating of human emotions to dogs (and other nonhuman entities) is a major player in the miscommunication between dog parent and Fido.

As humans, we often think our dog feels guilty, shameful, or even jealous. So what is Fido really saying? He is talking but you are not listening, or actually not reading his body language or facial signals.

Happy Dog: This is the “Social Butterfly”.

This dog will have a relaxed face and mouth, his tail will be wagging, to the right, another signal that your dog is comfortable with new people (you will have to watch in slow motion). His eyes will be soft, he will approach you for an affectionate back scratch. This dog has been properly socialized from a young age and/or is a breed that is particularly known for being non-aggressive, confident, social butterflies.

Shy Dog: This is “Mr. Cautious”.

This dog will not approach you, may look timid or even uneasy. The tail carriage will be low or even between the legs, he will not make eye contact, or will have `whale eye”. Whale eye is when you can see the whites of a dog's eyes. The dog is too afraid to look at you and at the same time, not sure if he should take his eyes off of you, so you can see the whites of his eyes. Do not approach this dog. With some time, and some awesome liver treats, I am sure the dog will warm up to you. It is important to work on building confidence and remain 100% positive with this type.

Angry Dog: This is “I don’t like it”.

This dog will have a stiff body, a hard stare, tensed mouth, will be in a crouching position and may even give a low growl. Opposite of the Happy Dog, his tail will wag to the left. This dog is actually using the right hemisphere of the brain which controls emotions. Do not approach this dog. The dog is perceiving you as a threat and will go into flight or fight drive. Sometimes a fearful and angry dog language can look the same so it's best to give any dog that exhibits this behavior their space. The fearful dog can easily switch over to angry dog and the best way to prevent a bite is to recognize all the body language and keep a safe distance.

Dog language can often be hard to read and sometimes confusing. Take time to gauge how a dog is feeling and how to react appropriately so both of you are comfortable. I promise, take time and be patient, and Fido will appreciate your consideration of his feelings. For more information contact Naples Top Dogs .

Confident Car Rides and Safe Travel With Your Puppy

Thu, 05 Dec 2019 16:22:50 GMT

This guide will address some concerns about road trips with your pets, and provide some details you can implement for a quality car ride with your dog!

Confident Car Rides and Safe Travel with Your Puppy

Car rides for most puppies can be enjoyable but sometimes it can be a scary thing for other puppies. Some puppies can get nauseous on rides. So how do we make it a positive experience for all pups? This can make it difficult to even go to the vet, run errands, the groomer, and never mind long journeys. Learn more about how to create a positive experience for your puppy and an excellent travel companion.

Why Are Some Puppies Afraid In the Car?

While puppies may enjoy car rides, I am here to help you to understand why some puppies can become afraid of them. Let’s look at Classical Conditioning in real life. Your puppy comes home for the first time, their long journey from the breeder whether you picked him up, he was driven by private transport, the breeder brought him to you or he was flown by cargo to you.

Now he is in a completely new environment, taken away from his littermates and his mother. The most likely second car ride will be to the veterinarian for his first exam. For some puppies, this may not be a big deal, but not all puppies are alike. He is in an unfamiliar place, handled by unfamiliar people and possibly other dogs at the vets office that possibly made him afraid. So the next time you go to go for a car ride, he now associates it with something fearful. We, inadvertently created this fear response, so how do we fix?

Now we learn that our new puppy has associated the car with fear. Let’s take some yummy treats and just sit in the car for a minute. We can Counter Condition and make the car now enjoyable. There is a great seatbelt made by Kurgo .

Kurgo also has a program named SAFE AGAIN that will assist in Seat Belts prevent your puppy from jumping around in the car which could cause an accident or if a car were to hit you while at a redlight, your puppy will most likely be injured.

You ride with a seatbelt, children ride with a seatbelt, and so should your pup! A carrier is also another safe way to transport your puppy safely. A Kong toy can also be put in the carrier to create a positive association with the car and occupy your puppy while driving. A great carrier can be found at Diggs and use NAPLES25 for a discount!

ONLY 16% of Dog Owners Restrain their Dogs During Travel, Even Though 86% Admit It is Dangerous!!!

EASE HIS FEARS

Once your puppy is distracted in the back seat, such as by eating, climb into the front seat and sit there for a while. Then get out, so that the puppy understands nothing bad happens when you’re with them in the car. Do this for a day.

The next day is when you can start the car with your puppy in the back seat. Turn the engine off without going anywhere. Do it a few times during the day until your puppy enjoys the back seat. This conditioning can take time, be patient.

TAKE SOME SHORT TRIPS

You’re now ready to start backing the car to the end of the driveway. Just go that far, and stop. Do it a couple of times in a row, letting your puppy out once you get back. If they start whining or showing other signs of stress, you may be taking things too quickly. It can take a while to complete this step, but it’s always effective.

Slowly but surely increase how long you spend in the car. Take a trip around the block, and then a trip to the park before going back home. Find somewhere your puppy will recognize and enjoy. The trip should be something positive so that they enjoy the experience and look forward to having it again. The biggest advice I give to my new puppy owners is take the puppy to the vet for no reason, get some love, yummy treats and go home. Here is an article on “How to Make Your Dog Love the car!

FUN FEAR FREE RIDES

Another way to make car trips easier is to do some crate training with it. Keep the puppy confined while the car is mobile. Loose animals can be a danger to themselves and the driver. Use a car barrier, a kennel, or a seat belt. Also, consider using a car accessory for dogs such as The Backseat Bridge.

HANDLING PROBLEMS AND POSITIVE FUN

Make sure to keep your pup on the back seat to avoid them getting hurt by airbags. There are lots of accidents caused by puppies and dogs getting underfoot and preventing drivers from using the brakes.

By taking trips that your puppy will actually enjoy, you’ll slowly but surely alleviate their fears over car travel. With some persistence, you’ll have a puppy, adolescent dogs and adult dog who eagerly anticipates their next car ride.

If you need help training your puppy for car ride click here to get in touch with our dog trainers!

What to Know About Water Safety for Dogs

Mon, 16 Sep 2019 16:39:28 GMT

How to Keep Your Dog Safe Around Water

In life, few things are more joyously dependable than a good dog, which is to say, all dogs!

If you’re a dog owner, you know that the relationship you have with your dog is one of the most rewarding ones you can ever have. No matter what kind of day it’s been or what type of mood you’re in, your dog is always happy to see you and welcome you home. They may want a treat or two for their trouble, but the unconditional love and fierce loyalty they show us is more than worth it.

You love to do everything and go everywhere with your dog, including the lake or swimming pool. Dogs love a dip in the water, and who doesn’t love to watch them doggie paddle? Even so, you’ll want to make sure that your dog is safe while going into the water.

These tips on water safety for dogs can ensure that your four-legged friend remains safe while going for a swim.

Know Your Dog

To begin with, you are going to want to make sure that your dog is up to swimming in the first place. Different dog breeds have different degrees of capability in this regard. Some dogs which are good at swimming include Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Irish Water Spaniels, and English Setters. While dogs that are bad at swimming tend to be on the smaller side, so you probably shouldn’t chuck your Shih-Tzu or chihuahua in and expect them to swim like Michael Phelps.

Regardless of the breed, you should never throw your dog in the water without their expecting it.

Dog Obedience

You also want to make sure that your dog is well trained and obedient. Whether your dog’s in trouble or you simply want to make sure that they get out when you say so, you need to make sure they understand and are ready to heed your commands. Check out our training services if needed!

Be Attentive

You’ll also want to be sure to be extremely attentive while your dog is in the pool. Treat them as you would a small child swimming in the pool. You need to constantly be on the lookout for any sign of your dog struggling and, should you detect trouble, get them out of the pool immediately.

You also want to make sure that your dog does not drink any pool water, or water from lakes. The former will be full of chlorine, while both could be rife with bacteria and other contaminants which would not be healthy for your dog to ingest.

Make sure to rinse off your dog completely when they come out of the water.

Dog Vests

When it comes to dog safety, dog vests can sometimes be a useful precaution. If you do invest in one, you’ll want to make sure that it fits snugly, and that you make sure that it remains snug throughout your dog’s time in the water. Make sure that the vest is free of any tears.

With these tips, you’ll be able to ensure your dog enjoys going for a swim in a safe fashion.

Tips for Keeping Your Dog Cool in the Hot Naples Summer

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 20:21:42 GMT

Cool Tips for a Hot Summer

Despite all our differences, few things unite us across borders and beliefs more than our beautiful beloved bark machines. Whether you own a tinyShih-Tzu or massive Great Dane or anything in between, the important thing is that you’re lucky enough to be a dog owner. Cute, friendly, dependable, loyal -- dogs really are man’s best friend and your relationship with your four-legged friend is bound to be one of the most rewarding in your entire life.

You love your dog and so want to make sure it stays in good health during the long hot summer months. For as much as we all love fun in the sun, the heat that comes with it can be hard on our canine companions. That’s why you’ll want to heed the advice of the best dog trainer in Naples and apply these quick and easy tips for helping your dog stay cool during the long hot summer.

A Matter of Timing

When walking your dog during the summer months, timing is critical. To keep your dog cool, you’ll want to be sure to try and arrange walks then the sun isn’t directly overhead and when temperatures are cooler.

One of the most important things to remember when it comes to protecting your dog from the summer sun is that it isn’t just the heat beating down on its back and body that can be difficult. You know how hot the pavement can get during the summer. Now imagine having to walk on that with bare feet. Dog foot pads and sizzling hot sidewalks don’t mix. If it’s extremely hot and you’re traveling over asphalt, cement sidewalks, or similar terrain, it may be best to just skip bringing your dog altogether.

Ice Packs and Wet Towels

If you do bring your dog, you’ll want to make sure that it can cool its paws. The best way to do this is to bring along ice packs and wet towels
that you can lay down for it. In addition, those towels can be draped over its body to help it beat the heat that way. Take breaks, take it slow, and make sure that it has ample time to cool its paws. If it seems as if your dog is struggling, don’t force it to continue.

Seek Out Shade

You’ll also want to be sure to seek out some shade. The less direct sunlight that you and your dog have to experience on long walks, the better.

Bring Water and Cool Treats

Summertime walks can dehydrate your dog, and fast. You thus want to bring along cool water and a collapsible water dish so it can stay hydrated. You can also bring along refrigerated treats. It can thus be a good idea to invest in a thermos or other insulating container that can keep water or treats cool while you’re out walking.

You love your dog and would hate for it not to get the exercise that it needs. That said, you also don’t want it to suffer in the scorching sun. With these tips, you and your dog can beat the heat together.

How to Safely Groom Your Dog at Home

Sat, 24 Aug 2019 12:22:59 GMT

Dog grooming is the one of the best parts of taking care of your puppy. Quality dog grooming equipment can allow your pet's grooming process to be quite a bit easier. Here's all the information you need to make your dog look beautiful which is given by Smart Dog Lover .

Best Grooming Items
There are several types of items that will help you wash your furry companion at home. You will be able to avoid expensive visits to the dog grooming salon with these helpful tips.
• Brushes and combs: Untangling brushes, dead hair removal blades and undercoat rakes all help to remove and untangle hair, whether short or medium length. Steel needle brushes, on the other hand, are more suitable for dogs with a longer, thicker coat.

• Shampoo: Oat conditioner shampoos help soothe dry skin and irritation while removing dirt and sebum that causes discomfort. For more severe skin conditions, such as allergies or fleas, there are medicated shampoos.

• Claw cutters : Heavier spring-loaded claw cutters such as those with guillotine blades or cutting pliers are more powerful and more precise. They are perfect for large dogs as well as those of average size. Lighter ones such as scissor clippers are more beneficial for small dogs. Purchasing a quality pair would be a wise investment. Keep coagulating powder on hand to stop bleeding if you cut too close to the root of the claw by accident.

• Grooming scissors : Grooming scissors are excellent for cutting and retouching. They are suitable for dogs that need to be cut regularly. In addition, they help keep the coat neat.

• Electric clippers : Electric clippers are excellent for both regular and occasional clipping. They offer an even cut. Electromagnetic and pivot motor mowers are better for shorter, lighter coats. On the other hand, rotary motor models are generally more powerful and more suitable for heavier coats.

• Ear Care Product: Although not often used, a quality ear cleaner can prevent irritation, infections and other ailments. This grooming step is very important for dogs with dangling ears. Soft cotton balls make it easy to clean your pet's ears before applying a cleaner or powder.

Dog Grooming Tips
• Elimination of dead hair: When grooming dogs that constantly lose their dead hair, use tools specifically designed for cleaning and removing undercoats such as blades.
• Hair cut : Not all dogs need to be cut, but many breeds (poodles, for example) will benefit from regular cuts.
• Treats: Keep treats handy during claw pruning or bathing. They will make grooming more enjoyable for you and your pet;
• Start at a young age: Begin grooming your dog at an early age to get used to the process. Many animals will appreciate the time of grooming, which will make the process easier.

Good grooming and proper techniques contribute to the happiness and health of your pet. Know what tools are right for your dog's special needs so that home grooming is easy and affordable.

Guide to Running with Your Dog

Wed, 07 Aug 2019 20:32:19 GMT

It is fair to say that few things are a more universal source of joy than dogs. No matter who you are or what your background may be, you can be sure that you’re surrounded by dog lovers.

After all, dogs have the potential to brighten up even the darkest days. However your day might have gone, you can count on your furry friend to give you a warm welcome when you come home. Sure, they may want a treat or two for their trouble, but isn’t it worth it?

Of course it is – because our dogs give us the kind of unconditional love which we all need.

For as much as they give us, it’s only fair that we give them something back. Running with your dog can be a great way to bond with them while giving them a chance for some much-needed exercise

This guide can help you make the most of your exercise together.

Make Sure They Have Energy

You don't want your dog to be starving or too full before the run. If you need to give them a small and healthy snack.

Warm up

From sprinters to baseball players and everyone in between, athletes always need to warm up before they start sprinting. The same holds true for dogs. Five to 10 minutes of light to brisk walking should be enough to get your pet limbered up and ready to run.

Build Their Endurance

You would be unwise to go from not being much of a runner to taking on the New York Marathon overnight. The same principle holds true for your dog. If they are new to running, they’ll need some time to build up their endurance. Try starting with a few minutes and work your way up gradually.

Professional help can be of great assistance here. For example, a certified dog trainer in Naples can help create an exercise regimen for you and your pet that includes running, including a graduated pace for increasing the amount of exercise you do together.

Be Vigilant

As a pet owner, you need to always be vigilant for any sign that your four-legged friend may be in a bit of distress. If it looks like your furry friend is, well, “dogging it” out there, either as the result of exhaustion or injury, it’s up to you to be aware of that. Don’t push your pet beyond its limits. At the first sign of trouble, stop, take it easy, and contact your trainer and – if it’s serious enough – your vet.

Pause Over Paws

When we go running, we tend to wear special shoes. But our furry friends don’t. It can be painful running in dress shoes or pumps – imagine what it would be like to go for a run across hot pavement with no shoes at all. You need to be extremely mindful of and pay close attention to the condition of your dog’s paws. If the temperature’s blistering hot, going for a run over asphalt, cement, or sandy surfaces can be a nightmare for them. Purchasing a good pair of dog running shoes can help protect their paws while running.

If your four legged friend shows any sign of favoring one or more of their paws, stop immediately and check on them. Also, consider using some healing hemp paw balm to sooth heal and protect.

With this guide, you and your dog can get the most out of your running time together.

For some really fun sniffing exercises check this post:

Happy Sniffing: How You and Your Dog can Enjoy Nose Work . I guarantee that you'll get some great exercise while having fun with your dog.

How Dogs Can Reduce Your Stress

Wed, 10 Jul 2019 16:48:17 GMT

Having a Well-Trained Dog Reduces Stress

While most people would agree that dogs help reduce stress, this typically applies to well-behaved pups. What about for the people who have a pooch that is unruly and is always making a mess? Well, all hope is not lost for them, and they too can have a well-trained dog that fills their life with laughter and joy. It really is true that dog is man’s best friend, but sometimes it just takes a bit of extra effort to train a pup to behave properly. Here are some ways that dogs can reduce stress and how a dog trainer can help with strengthening the bond between pet and pet parent.

Dogs Are Good for People’s Health

There are various studies that have shown the physical benefits of owning a dog. Research published in the Journal of Social Psychology, and researchers at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center have found that dog owners have a lower risk of heart disease, decreased stress levels, and live longer on average than non-dog owners.

While pooches can lower a person’s stress response and heart rate, these animals also encourage their owners to be more active. This gets them out of the house, up on their feet, and even meeting new people while out and about. All of these factors combine to create a higher quality of life than individuals who don’t own a dog. There’s a reason that colleges bring therapy dogs to the school during exam week; it calms the students down and gets them in a more relaxed and peaceful state of mind. In addition, dogs make great companions for some elderly folks, especially those that spend a lot of time alone.

The Difference Between Untrained and Well-Trained Dogs

All that being said, if a pup is particularly naughty or has just never had proper training or socialization , then they can become more of a burden than a stress reliever. Just like children, doggies need some instruction to be an enjoyable addition to the family, too. Dog training isn’t something that owners do just so they can show off their pet’s tricks. Rather, training and socialization are basic needs for a dog, and without them, a pup can be unhappy, frightened, and can develop behavior problems.

Training a dog shouldn’t be an afterthought, but a necessary and important part of owning a pooch. Fortunately, there are dog trainers in any local area that can assist with establishing good habits and critical learning, both for dogs and their parents. Contrary to popular belief, even old dogs can learn new tricks, it just takes a bit more time and effort.

How a Dog Trainer Can Eliminate Stress

Doggies may be cute and cuddly, but they are still animals, and there can be a disconnect between them and their human counterparts. Dog trainers can help with bridging that gap, creating a closer, more enjoyable bond between owners and their pets. Many dog trainers use positive reinforcement to help pups learn everything from potty and crate training to cool tricks.

As any parent of an infant will know, potty training can be tough. A trainer will have plenty of tips to streamline this process and make it as smooth of a transition as possible. They can do the same thing with crate training and getting a dog to walk properly on a leash. This keeps everyone safe and develops more trust between the pooch and their owner. Moreover, a trainer can make the entire training process go much faster, freeing up more time for owners to enjoy time with their dogs. This eliminates a lot of trial and error and transforms a dog into a safe, obedient, and loving pup much sooner.

Flying With Your Pets

Fri, 21 Jun 2019 18:45:17 GMT

Travelling Restrictions

Since dogs and cats are a part of the family, it's more and more common to take your family pet with you while traveling. Unless you have a Service Dog or a legitimate ESA, some airlines are restricting breeds on their flights. Since 2018, airlines have made changes to their policies on flying with pets. Most “fighting breeds” (whatever that means) are required specific crates and brachycephalic (ie. pugs, Frenchies, Boston terriers) are recommended not to fly as they do not do well maintaining normal body temperature. If you have a pet that is anxious please reconsider taking them on a flight and explore a pet sitter (licensed, insured, check references) or a family member keeping them while you travel. Don’t forget, Naples Top Dogs are pet sitters !

Requirements
Preparation is key! First, contact the airline to see their specific requirements. Some airlines restrict the number of pet dogs per flight so do not wait till the last minute. Second, make sure you have the right carrier for your pet. Your pet should be able to lie down, get up and turn around, and a carrier too big may not be acceptable for the flight and a carrier too small will make your pet uncomfortable. Each airline is different. Since “pigs and peacocks” were brought on as “ESA’s”, airlines have made stricter policies. Here is a link with specific information on what to do to fly with your pet. These policies are governed by the USDA.

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel/by-country/unknown-requirements-pet-travel

For a crate that will be checked in as baggage, special IATA requirements are necessary. Here is a link to provide you with that information.

https://www.iata.org/whatwedo/cargo/live-animals/Documents/pet-container-requirements.pdf
For carriers that are going in the cabin, the carrier must be able to fit under the seat. This pretty much limits the size and weight of in-cabin pets. Typically it's under 20 lbs. Remember, this is only applicable to pets! We are not referring to Service Dogs or legitimate ESA’s.Finally, make sure your pet has the necessary paperwork from the vet. All airlines require a health certificate from a licensed veterinarian within 30 days of the flight. Lastly, the day of the flight, give your pet a small meal and prepare a Kong for the flight. Make sure your pet is well hydrated and bring back up if there are unexpected delays.

Happy Sniffing: How You and Your Dog can Enjoy Nose Work

Thu, 13 Jun 2019 19:52:10 GMT

Everyone knows that dogs have a great sense of smell and a strong case can be made that smell is their strongest sense of all. Dogs love using their nose to make sense of the world, due to the possession of up to 300 million olfactory receptors! The sport or activity of nose work really isn't "work" for dogs at all, they actually love it! As a dog lover, you know how much dogs love to have fun, so when you get to play around and explore their sense of smell it is truly a win/win situation for everyone involved.

Incredibly fascinating concepts

Nose work is an incredibly fascinating concept, and there is a vast amount of information on nose work to research, but briefly put, dogs learn how to become reconnected with their natural hunting instincts and locate target scents that are in the environment, on vehicles, hidden in boxes, and so forth, similar to how working dogs do. However, this activity is geared specifically for companion dogs like yours. Nose work is an official canine sport but can also be a fun activity that you can enjoy with your dog if formal competitions are not your thing.

Nose work is ideal for dogs of all ages and abilities, and there is no prerequisite training that is needed. For example, an older dog may not be keen on agility or obedience as they grow older, but they always love to get a reward for hunting around and using their nose. Another benefit that comes with nose work is that it is quite tiring for dogs, despite the fact that there isn't much cardio involved with the activity. Because each hide is a type of blind hide, a dog must learn how to rely on their sense of smell in order to sniff the target scent or treat out in order to receive their reward. For more on training with treats, check out this post: Stop Feeding your Dog from a Bowl

Sniffing Unleashed

Nose work is a great activity for both dogs and the humans who love watching their pets do what they do best. Many dog trainers have fallen completely in love with this activity to do with their dogs and ever since have been hooked. Dogs are natural hunters, but over time, people have discouraged dogs from using their keen sense of smell to its full potential based on human norms such as discouraging "calling card" sniffing, dog-to-dog butt sniffing, etc. I believe that within reason we should allow dogs to be dogs. After all, they are not robots, and this is one of the reasons why we love them so much.

Following safety, the first tenant for having a successful experience with canine nose work is simply to have fun. One of the things that I greatly enjoy about nose work is that there is absolutely no "obedience" involved in the activity. We do not want our dog to check in and ask for help the way they do in most typical obedience classes .

Beyond giving a search cue word, allow your dog to do what they do and go where they go.

Moving with Dogs: Effective Tips to Follow

Wed, 29 May 2019 16:16:35 GMT

Dogs are creatures who are accustomed to having consistency in their lives-eating habits, poo-ing schedules, walk timings and especially, their surroundings. For this reason, they are not fans of going through the moving process and ending up in a strange, unknown place. It is true that they can adjust well with time, but it is also true that proper care, attention and some techniques are required of the owner to minimize the negative effects of moving on your pet and to ensure that this transition is carried out smoothly and comfortably.

In this article, we will be talking about how moving with dogs can be made as uncomplicated as possible for these lovable creatures.

Addressing Health Concerns First

Before you move to the new area with your pet, you should consult your current vet and take suggestions for capable, skilled vets presently working in your new neighborhood and how you are supposed to adapt your current pest-ticks, fleas, mites, etcetera-control methods in accordance to the climatic conditions of the new area.

You should also have contact information of your local emergency veterinary clinic/hospital-the one that's closest to your residence-just in case. Moreover, it is imperative for you to have all of your dog's necessary healthcare documents and certificates sent to its new hospital or health care facility.

Helping Improve Your Dog's Social Skills in the New Environment

Strange faces, roads, sidewalks, noises and people moving around in your house may confuse your dog more than you can imagine. They may resort to escape if they spot an open exit. You should try to shrink the possibility of this happening to the minimum but just in case, make sure that your dog is micro-chipped and wears its identification tag all the time.

Moreover, to make your pet feel more 'at home', you should try to imitate the setting of their kennel and toys as it was at your previous house. For the first few days, try to shield them from loud, unfamiliar noises by keeping them in relatively quiet places.

You should take them on frequent walks around the neighborhood or to nearby parks-leashed-and greet new neighbors and passerby's on your way to sort of train them into considering the new area their 'home'. You can also make use of some assistance from dog trainers if you think that your pet is taking too long to adjust and train.

Safety Concerns

Before your moving day arrives, it is very important for you to be completely positive about your dog's security in your new home and community. Firstly, you should make sure that there don't exist any dog breed restrictions that will impact your pet in the area. Secondly, you should also check with the local associations about limits related to quantity if you own more than one dog.

Thirdly, before you let your dog roam free without its leash, you should check your entire house's infrastructure and your yard carefully for any holes in fences, unknown spaces, broken glass pieces or pointy objects etcetera as once free, your dog will want to explore the new area to the core. You certainly wouldn't want your 'child' to get hurt during its innocent ventures.

Training Techniques to Aid Adaptation

Due to the major changes they will be going through, you should be ready to cut your dog some slack and expect some setbacks in their training. They may not know exactly how to react to the new situation, in a new place.

Hence, after you have moved with your pet, you should proceed with some fun training techniques which would involve you and them getting back into the usual comfort zone. High-value treats coupled with refreshing training games will prove to be sources of stress-relief as a bonus.

Hire a Moving Company

This will free you up to be much more attentive to the needs of your dog. Getting a moving company to do the heavy lifting will keep your stress levels lower as well. This extra bit of calm with benefit your dog. Also, check out these tips for a stress free moving experienc e .

Ditch the Dish

Mon, 20 May 2019 02:55:24 GMT

What does if mean when Naples Top Dogs refers to “Ditch the Dish”? We did not coin the phrase, it's been a useful and successful tool for many trainers and behaviorists for years. Dr. Ian Dunbar and Victoria Stillwell, both famous positive dog trainers use this method. Successful positive reward based training relies on exactly what motivates your puppy or dog.

Motivation:
Motivation is defined as the desire or willingness to engage in a behavior. So what exactly does motivation mean? Motivation can vary between individuals. Consider it like gas in your tank. Yes, your car will run with just a gallon but a full tank will get you much further. My dog Gucci is totally motivated by a ball, CardiB on the other hand will do backflips for ZiwiPeak. I once trained a dog with ice cubes. I figured what went in his “gas tank”.

When training your dog, one of the most powerful tool you have for training is their food. Naples Top Dogs suggests that you take the daily intake of their food and split it up for training, puzzles, Kong*, classical (especially puppies) and sniffmatts. There are so many ways to feed your dog, you just have to get a little creative.

Health Issues
When training your dog, Naples Top Dogs suggests that you take the daily intake of their diet and split it up for training, classical conditioning, puzzles, Kongs, Sniffmatts. There are so many ways to feed your dog just get a little creative. Splitting up the daily intake can also prevent those dogs that woof down their kibble in just a couple of seconds. This can cause bloat. A serious medical condition that will send you to the vet with a very expensive bill. Ditching the dish allows your dog to work for their food, feeding from a bowl is just silly, it robs your dog of one of their favorite activities: working for their meals.

How to Use Food for Dog Training
If you don’t feed dogs with a bowl, then the question becomes how do you feed them? There are two main ways to feed a dog without a bowl; actively and automatically.

Active training is when you measure out how much food your dog is allowed and put it in a jar ready for the day. Hand-feed the food to your dog across the day while training them with obedience training and regular conditioning exercises.

Take any food left in the jar at the end of the day and use it as part of automatic training. You can do this by putting the food into a hollow chew toy and giving it to the dog any time you need them to settle down or will be leaving them alone.

Each piece of food your dog eats out of your hand builds their affinity towards people and makes them more sociable. It also rewards them for the behavior that they performed prior to being fed. Each piece of food they eat from their hollow chew toy rewards them for settling down and playing with their toy.

What Food to Give Them?
You should use standard dry kibble as their primary food reward or treat when training. There’s no need to buy a commercial treat that is packed full of fat, sugar, and salt.

However, if you’re after a way to take things to the next level and give your dog a great food reward or lure, then we would recommend that you use Ziwi Peak . This reward is a balanced food that is tastier than the average treat because it’s made from air-dried meat. Furthermore, Ziwi Peak is flat and can be easily broken down into smaller pieces, giving you the chance to create lots of small food-based rewards without overfeeding your dog.

For the most part, you can use basic kibble for a treat, but there will be times where your dog does something worthy of an extra tasty treat. These are situations where it’s best to put some kibble into a Ziploc bag, add some freeze-dried liver into the bag and give it a shake. You’ve just created cheap, healthy, super tasty treats for your dog. These treats should be used for the most important things such as toilet training and socializing with new people.

Phasing Out Food
Food is a great tool for training dogs, but you should be smart about how you use it during obedience training. If you don’t, then you’ll find yourself with a dog that only ever does what its told when you’re holding some food for it. When you start training food can be used as a lure and a reward for the dog, but as they learn and become more capable, you want to stop using it to lure them and reduce how often you reward your dog with food.

Phasing out food as a lure isn’t that difficult. Once you’ve taught your dog a skill, you can use an empty hand to lure them. It’s more effective at first to have a hand that looks and smells like you are holding a treat. If they do what they are supposed to then you could reward them using a treat held in your other hand, which is either in your pocket or behind your back. Eventually, your dog will pick up on your body movements and see them as the most important thing. They’ll learn that what you do is more important than if you have food or not.

From there, you should work on reducing how often you treat your dog with food rewards. Rather, you should make Life Rewards part of the training. These rewards can be far more powerful than a basic food reward too. Life Rewards are activities that your dog loves to do such as sitting on furniture, going out for a walk, having a game of tug, being scratched behind the ears, that kind of thing. If you incorporate training into the fun activity like a walk then you could use resuming the activity as a reward. Each time you go back to doing what your dog likes and having fun with them, it’s a reward to them.

You can keep using food as a reward for obedience training , but it should be reserved for when they do a particularly good job or do something more advanced.

Using Food Forever
There are certain training scenarios where you can – and indeed should – continue using food constantly. This includes classical conditioning, toilet training, and jackpots. You need to constantly reinforce proper socialization and toilet training with your dog or their skills are likely going to deteriorate. It’s simple to give your dog a food treat every time they go to the bathroom where they should. When it comes to socialization, look out for signs of aggression or fearfulness with your dog. When you notice these signs, work out what is causing them and use some of the daily food ration you’ve set aside to condition them.

Jackpot!
You should always let your dog know when they’ve done something truly impressive. If they come to you when you call for them even though they are distracted – such as by a squirrel – then that’s great and you should do something to reinforce it. Give them extra treats. Don’t be afraid to give them ten treats, as long as you do it one at a time and tell them how great they are and how impressed you are in a loving voice as you do it. This is sure to make a great impression on them and make them feel great (not to mention reinforce that they should do that again.)

My Dog Doesn’t Like Food
If you always feed your dog with a bowl, then chances are they won’t be all that interested in food when training them. So get rid of their food bowl! Actually, you can use classical conditioning to train your dog to have more appreciation for their kibble and enjoy it more. Just give them a piece of kibble before treating them with a Life Reward. They start to associate the kibble with the activity, and how much they love those activities will pass on to the kibble and make them love kibble more.

Positivity Proves Scientifically to be the Most Powerful Dog Training Tool of All

Mon, 29 Apr 2019 20:37:02 GMT

All dogs tend naturally toward positivity, as they generally respond best to positive reinforcement. Sadly, the dog training industry is not very regulated and some dog trainers fail to educate or “change their ways” and end up relying on overly stentorian or simply dominance-based training.
When it comes to choosing a dog trainer, Naples residents will generally do well to focus on those who make a point of positivity. There are many reasons to prefer positive reinforcement dog training over other types, even if the latter might be more familiar. In fact, training that incorporates only positive feedback has become the style that most experts now recommend.

A Relatively Recent Development for an Ancient Field
Dogs were first domesticated somewhere around 45,000 years ago, and people have been training them ever since. The first domesticated dogs were small wolf-like in their appearance and behaviors. That lingering wildness might have made somewhat harsh methods seem appropriate to the relatively unsophisticated people who sought to train them.
Unfortunately, that early mistake came to dominate the discipline of canine training, eventually becoming taken for granted by many trainers. Positive reinforcement trainers have been around for a while, Dr. Ian Dunbar, a pioneer on pet dog training, founder of Association of Professional Dog Trainers and Dog Star Daily, and positive reinforcement taught the first puppy class in the United States in late 70’s. Karen Pryor, also a positive reinforcement trainer and author of “Don’t Shoot the Dog” was clicking and clicking in the 70’s. Unfortunately for decades, traditional trainers relied on harsh punishment and a popular television show he common wisdom held that dogs responded best to dominance training to modify behaviors. The AVSAB position statements on Dominance Theory and Ceasar Milan 911 Response can be found on www.AVSABonline.org .

By the middle of the 1980s, though, a better grounded and more productive view started to take hold. Positive Dog Training has since become the norm among informed owners and trainers alike.

Positivity Pays Off!
Choosing a Positive Dog Trainer will enable many benefits compared to opting for the traditional approach. While aversive training might initially seem effective at limiting undesirable behaviors, it has many drawbacks that are now widely recognized. Using positive reinforcement and simply not acknowledging mistakes will enable advantages related to:
• Communication . Dogs aim to please their owners, but how best to do so is not always clear to them. Aversive training that relies on negative reinforcement was once thought to communicate an unambiguous message quite directly. In fact, dogs acquire a much more reliable understanding of what their owners want when positive reinforcement is used instead.
• Reliability . For many years, dog trainers who relied on aversive approaches were aware that their tactics tended to become less and less effective over time. That would often mean a dog that had learned a certain amount would eventually become resistant to further improvement. The endless eagerness of dogs to make their owners and others happy, though, makes positive training much more reliable. Even dogs which seemed to hit a wall when subjected to aversive training will often make plenty of additional progress after receiving praise and encouragement.
• Versatility . Like all other animals, dogs tend to react in unpleasant ways when they feel fearful or angry. The negative nature of most aversive training works against many common goals because of this unavoidable fact. Positive training, on the other hand, can be applied to achieve almost anything a dog might be capable of. That makes positivity a much more versatile tool than negative reinforcement.

A Better Way to Train Any Dog
Choosing a Dog Trainer who takes the approach of fear free, force free and who focuses solely on positive reinforcement will always be the best way to ensure a happy, well-behaved pet. Although this positive style has quickly become the preferred approach for virtually all acknowledged experts.
Whether with a young dog who needs to be brought up to speed with the basics or a mature one who could use some refinement, positivity has proven to be an especially powerful tool. Dog owners who look into the matter almost inevitably come away happy and satisfied that their beloved pets can be trained without the use of any fear, force or dominance.

Un-leash Your Leash Training Potential

swflk9trainer@gmail.com (Allison Christian) — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 01:30:11 GMT

How to leverage one your dog's favorite daily routines.

Does your dog misbehave while out on walks? Does she pull on the leash or ignore your commands?

There are many situations when your dog ignores your commands, and you try to pull the leash to force her towards the desired activity or direction. Unfortunately, many people misunderstand just how important leash training is, and the leash becomes a tool for making things worse.

For many, the scenario flows a bit like this. You take a dog out for a walk, all of that moving around leads to a poopy situation after a bit, and then you typically head back to the house. However, you are missing out on some great training opportunities for your dog during every step in this process.

Before you initiate a walk , be alert for your dog doing something right and then reward him for that by taking him out for a stroll.

The reason is simple; you want to use your walk as a reward system. The last thing you want is to take your dog on a walk randomly. Get creative and add enjoyable elements to the walk that actively rewards your pet.

If your dog gets too wild when you let her know about going on a walk, you should not reward that kind of behavior. Instead, reward only the good things she does. This way you are training by reinforcing right behaviors. Avoid opening the door if they are too excited and out of control or if they are misbehaving. Then walk to the sidewalk and ask them to sit again. You want to control their behavior and ensure they are ready for this, not overly excited and prepared to do bad stuff.

Always teach your dog to sit at important boundaries.

These important boundaries include your front door, the end of your driveway, before crossing the street and so on. Every step of the walk is a reward, so you want to teach your pet that not pulling is the best way to make you walk. Wait until he stops pulling on the leash. It might take a little bit of time to do that, but you can start with a single step and stop, then you can increase the number of steps and stops gradually if you want to.

Once that is done, you can start being more creative with this. You can start running unpredictably, change speed and momentum and see how your dog reacts to that. He should be able to adapt to the process quite quickly.

Alternatively, you can sit on a bench and give treats for a few minutes as a reward for his excellent behavior. It will teach them to stay calm and confident. The idea is not to let your dog control the walk, you are the one responsible, and you need to remember that. Even if it will take some time to adapt your habits to this approach, it’s certainly something you should consider. Rest assured that even if it does take a little while to get things working, these tips will make a huge difference and you and your dog will be you a lot happier for taking the time for leash training.

Why work with a Positive Reinforcement - Force Free Dog Trainer?

Mon, 28 Jan 2019 03:37:15 GMT

One of the main challenges when you want to train your dog is to not force it into anything. The reason is simple, the training process is not that appealing to dogs if you force them to do stuff. You want things to appear natural and exciting. That’s why the Positive Reinforcement dog trainer will only use methods that are great for dogs and enjoyable for them as well.

Why is Force Free Dog Training a good option?

This type of training is turning the entire process into something that the dog will like and appreciate all the time. Using treats to make an activity a bit more appealing can be a great option. But the Positive Reinforcement dog trainer will also make sure that the activity is enjoyable for the pet. Because an enjoyable activity will always be exciting and relaxing, and the pet is bound to try it again and again if it’s a good one for sure.

Then there’s also the fact that the Positive Reinforcement dog trainer will not use any type of punishment. Just put yourself in place of your dog. Would you like pain inducing collars, hitting, yelling and so on? No, you wouldn’t. So it makes a lot of sense to not use this kind of behavior with your pet. In the end, it can be a very bad thing, so you might as well want to avoid it. The Positive Reinforcement methods are a lot more interesting and exciting for pets, not to mention safer too. So you should totally give them a shot at all times if possible.

There’s a lot of discipline and structure

One of the nicest things about working with Positive Reinforcement dog trainer is that you see just how much work and discipline goes into this. Pets will find it very hard to stick to certain guidelines and requirements. But for the most part Positive Reinforcement is all about consistency, knowing how to manage and handle things and the best possible experience.

You can also pair this kind of training with a variety of other options if you want. The idea is to understand the situation and actively figure out the best possible approach regardless of what happens. Once you do that you will find that nothing is impossible and your pet can learn a whole lot.

Is Positive Reinforcement training safe?

Yes, this is maybe the safest training option out there. In fact, it’s designed to help protect your dog and create a positive environment around him. Even if doing that might take a bit of work, it’s certainly something you want, and it will be an amazing opportunity all the time.

We encourage you to work closely with the Positive Reinforcement dog trainer to help your dog enjoy the training process. This will make it a lot easier for your pet to understand commands and obey them all the time. Even if it does take a bit to get used to this, it will be worth it!

Stop Feeding your Dog from a Bowl

Wed, 16 Jan 2019 20:12:47 GMT

Every dog trainer will tell you that using a food bowl is depriving your pet of a very important training activity. That’s especially true if your pet has any sort of behavior problems. What you want to do is to really focus on the situation and actively figure out what you can do in this situation.

Why is feeding via a food bowl wrong?

Normally this helps you keep all food in a single place, so it’s actually not bad at all. If anything, it brings good things to the table and that’s always something that you have to keep in mind. The problem with feeding via a bowl is that, as every dog trainer will say, you don’t get to show the true value of food in training.

If your dog sees an abundance of food in a bowl, you won’t have great results when you try to encourage him to eat food from the bowl. That’s very bad if you are interested in training your dog the right way and using all tools at your disposal to make the training process interesting and more exciting in the first place.

Some dogs won’t like to eat from the bowl anyways, but others will love it and that will obviously bring problems when it comes to your training routine. As a result, what you want to do is to focus on training and eliminate having a food dish.

What can you do?

The best thing to focus on here is to just remove the bowl completely from the entire feeding process. Instead, use the bowl to store your “rewards” while training. Don’t feed him or her all at once, because that is huge wasted opportunity.

Some people will still want to use a bowl, and in the end the best thing you can do here is to feed him regular food if you want to. Use the best stuff as treats. Try using some amazing delicious all natural treats from a reputable company like The Cheeky Wolf Company . The idea with treats is that you want your dog to go through all the training so he can get to the good stuff. It’s a huge challenge for him and that’s why you want him to feel rewarded. Which is what happens when you offer the best food in the form of treats.

Summary

It’s safe to say that feeding your dog from a bowl is not exactly helpful if you want to boost the training routine. Even if you do end up using the bowl, keep the best and tastiest food as treats. This way your dog is still enticed to eat that, and it will help quite a bit. As we mentioned earlier, testing treats and seeing which ones are the most appealing to your pet is a good idea too. Just try to come up with unique and fun systems like this that work. In the end they will be well worth the effort!

The Complete Guide For Stopping Unwanted Barking

Wed, 02 Jan 2019 19:52:15 GMT

How to Change Your Dog’s Barking Behavior

If you are looking for our quick guide, click on over to Bark Busting Basics to find a more condensed version of this article.

1. Manage their Environment
The first step to changing dog behavior is preventing a dog from being able to do what you don’t want them to. Every time they get the chance to do something, it is another chance that the behavior will be reinforced and harder to stop. If you know your dog has a bad habit of barking at people as they pass by your house when you aren’t home, and everyone obliges him by just continuing on with their day, then it’s going to be tough to stop the barking through home training.

Training is about reinforcing the positive behavior that you do want over the negative one you don’t. Managing the environment – known as antecedent arrangement – is a vital step in succeeding with training.

There are times when environmental management might be enough. If you just want your dog to stop barking at everything they see outside the house, just close the curtains or put some frosted window film on the part of the window they look out of, or just taking the dog out of the room so they can’t see anyone passing by.

2. Manage their Reinforcement
There are two main categories when it comes to problem barking; barking that is directed at you, the owner, and barking that is directed at things within the environment. Dogs barking at their owners tends to be reinforced by their owners paying attention to them, while barking at other objects tends to be reinforced by distance.

Think about how your dog might bark for attention; they bark at you and so you respond by giving them a look or by telling them no. Despite the negative response, it could be positively reinforcing the behavior for them. They braked at you and you responded, so they are going to keep doing it. Perhaps you will get up and feed your dog if they bark at you, or take them out for a walk, or just pick them and fuss them. Why wouldn’t a dog want to try doing that again?

3. Reinforce Other Behavior
Before starting training with your dog, you have to ask what behavior you want to reinforce. Don’t just ask what you want them to not do, but also ask what they should be doing instead.

There are lots of good reasons for finding something else for your dog to do and to reinforce in them. Practical concerns are chief among these reasons. It’s far more helpful to your dog if you tell them what you want them to do rather than telling them what not to do.

Another good reason is being able to train replacement behaviors for your dog. This is one of the most important reasons, as lots of positive reinforcement keeps both you and your pet happy and is suitable for behavioral health.

It’s not enough to just take a deep breath and ignore your dog when they start barking at you. Ignoring something is not a good way to stop it from happening. It frustrates your dog – not to mention you – and so it’s likely going to fail.

If something worked before and then doesn’t work now, it’s not going to magically disappear. It will begin to intensify, resulting in the barking intensifying. It reaches a point it becomes impossible to ignore, especially if you are living in a small space, have a headache, or are talking on the phone. Dogs start to bark louder and for longer for the same reason we hit faulty machinery until it works. It’s known as an extinction burst.

When you give in and respond to your dog because it becomes too much, you create some new problems; 1) you’ve now reinforced a stronger version of the original bad behavior, and 2) the behavior is now on an intermittent schedule of reinforcement, which is known as the gambler’s schedule. This is when behaviors become persistent despite being reinforced only occasionally.

Find appropriate cues and replacement behaviors before your dog starts barking, and then proactively reinforce these new ideas.

If you take a few deep breaths because of barking, you aren’t actually ignoring the behavior. Rather, you’re just waiting for one that you would prefer. You want your dog to find an acceptable way of getting your attention. Teaching your dog several simple behaviors through positive reinforcement means your dog will likely try a positive alternative if barking doesn’t work. Be ready to give them some reinforcement when they do.

A Working Example
Let’s say you come home after work and your dog walks up to you. You know your dog often barks when he’s hungry and now is around the time to give him his dinner. There are some things you can do in this situation:
• Wait for the dog to bark and then feed him to stop his barking
• Wait for the dog to bark and attempt to ignore him before failing and feeding him when he gets to a fever pitch
• Wait for the dog to bark and cue a better behavior such as sitting. Once the dog sits you praise them and feed them. This stops them from barking and reinforces positive behavior. This may also reinforce barking though. The cue to sit is a chance for reinforcement, which makes it by itself a reinforcer. As long as the cue is given after one or two barks though, you’re still reinforcing less barking at least.
• Wait for the dog to bark and take a deep breath. Wait for the dog to stop barking and praise them and give them a treat. When they finish the treat, click or treat them again before they can start barking again. Continue to do this until the dog begins offering some silence, and then feed them.
• Cue your dog to sit as they approach, before they can even start to bark. If they sit, give them a treat and then feed them.
• Move before your dog can reach you, feeding him before he has a chance to start barking
As long as you stay consistent with one of these approaches, the behavior that you choose to reinforce into the dog will become their response when their tummy starts rumbling.

4. Listen to Your Dog
Did you see how all of the examples given above ended with the dog being fed? Dogs might enjoy a game of fetch, but there’s a reason for the barking right now. The reason is easy enough to work out if you stop and think about how your dog has acted before and the consequences of those actions. Your dog is helping out themselves by giving you an idea of what would most reinforce them at that moment. It just so happens that it’s something you were about to do for them anyway.

Dogs bark in order to express they want or need something. Take care of those wants and needs and they’ll have less reason to bark in the first place. Positive training teaches your dog a better way to express their needs and have them met if you don’t anticipate them. When a dog barks, as they inevitably will, you’ll be equipped to positively and effectively manage it.

Bark Busting Basics: How to Stop Your Dog From Barking The Right Way

Mon, 17 Dec 2018 14:28:36 GMT

There are a couple of reasons why our canine companions would start to bark. However, while sometimes we welcome the various noises dogs make simply because they're funny, barking is often an inconvenience.

Now, most of the time, our dogs bark to warn us of danger. Although their sense of danger may be triggered by someone passing our apartment doors, their intentions are good. So, first and foremost, we must learn never to respond to barking with anger. Doing so will only aggravate your dog further. Instead, we should acknowledge the dog and comfort it. After all, the real reason why it's barking is that it's frightened.

Still, some dogs bark out of boredom as well . That's where we have a chance to correct their behavior some more. However, often, just spending some more time with our pups and playing with them until they're tired is enough to curb this behavior.

Whatever our dogs' reasons for barking are, we ought to identify them before deciding upon a training program. Once we understand exactly why they're behaving this way, we'll be able to help them get past it. But before we talk about how we should handle our dogs' barking, let's discuss what not to do.

What Not to Do When Your Dog Starts Barking

As we have previously mentioned, getting angry with our pups for being afraid or trying to protect us is the last thing we'd want to do. So yelling at them, let alone punishing them, would be a big mistake. It would only further stress the dogs, which can be incredibly detrimental to their overall health.

However, while we don't want to punish barking, we certainly don't want to reward it either. Instead, we want to project a calm and confident visage and compel our pups to be quiet in different ways. Seeing that we're calm even when they're feeling threatened will suggest to the dog that there's nothing to be afraid of. When they're in a more stable state, we can suggest ways they can deal with the situation in the future.

What to Do When Your Dog Starts Barking in Alarm

Finally, let's talk about the correct course of action to take from the moment our dogs let out the first growl. Even before our dogs start barking, there are a few signs we may be able to catch. Their ears might twitch or move back if they're feeling aggressive. Additionally, we may see the fur on their back rise. Then, they might start with a low growl or go right into a bark unexpectedly.

We understand why sudden barking may startle or even anger some people. But, once again, it's important to keep in mind that our dogs are never doing it to annoy us.

So what do we do next?
To begin with, we can remove the barking dog from the situation. Sometimes, that would mean taking it into a different room. However, if we're outdoors, stepping in front of the dog should be enough. If you've worked on hand commands with your dog, you should use the command to stand down.

However, the dog may be too upset to hear or see any command. If that's the case, we can gently pet the dog and talk to them until they stop feeling threatened. Once the dog has settled down, we can reward them with a treat and even try issuing another command. For example, telling the dog to sit or lie down might get their mind off the threat.

It also helps to know what our pups are afraid of or generally threatened by. Remember the dogs your dog usually interacts with aggressively, noises it dislikes, and other such stimulants. With a bit of practice, you'll be able to predict when your dog is about to start barking and nip it in the bud!

Need Help?

If you need help with barking, please don't hesitate to contact Naples Top Dogs , we'd be glad to help!

Early Socialization Puppy Training Tips

swflk9trainer@gmail.com (Allison Christian) — Wed, 21 Nov 2018 21:47:33 GMT

Having a puppy that is well socialized is essential for a happy, emotionally adult dog and, let’s be honest, a happy owner. From the time a dog opens their eyes and has developed its’ basic motor skills, they have begun learning.

Beginning from three days old, the breeder will start the “imprinting” process. For more information on how to find a reputable breeder, look at www.akc.org/marketplace . At 8 weeks, your puppy has begun play fighting and bite inhibition with their litter mates. It’s imperative that your pup comes in contact with men and children, as typically dogs, noticed by owners, at an older age, that their one time happy, loves everyone puppy is now fearful or “aggressive” towards strangers. Boys from 5-8 are the highest at risk for bites. Exposing puppies to auditory, sensory, tactile, proprioceptive, and visual. A lot of handling is important but never overdo it. There is a protocol that breeders can join and follow that I recommend, www.puppyculture.com is an awesome resource.

Once the puppy is eight weeks old, he or she should be ready to come home. Take it easy the first few days, he will most likely sleep a lot, introduce him to a crate immediately if the breeder did not already, www.diggs.pet are great crates and more on crate training to come. Once your puppy settles in, contact a fear-free trainer in your area, a great resource is www.petprofessionalguild.com and www.akc.org/cgc for Canine Good Citizenship Evaluators. Do not go by the “old way” and wait until the pup has all of their shots, it’s too late. The American Veterinary Society Animal of Behavior www.avsab.org outlines that under socialization puts a pup at a much higher rate of being returned to breeder, shelter, re-homed vs. waiting on all vaccinations.

A puppy typically leads with curiosity not fear if your puppy is able to socialize with different sizes/types of dogs and people it will mold your puppy as an adult. Ultimately deciding if your puppy will be “dog-friendly”, “people-friendly,” or “cat-friendly”. If you give your puppy the right training and building blocks, you will have a puppy who likes dogs, cats, and people

Thinking about getting a puppy from a reputable breeder? Visit them, speak to owners that have a relationship with them, health guarantees, visit them! Ask them how they plan on socializing the puppy during those few weeks prior to you taking it home.

Your First Week with a Puppy

swflk9trainer@gmail.com (Allison Christian) — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 18:52:54 GMT

You don’t have to be a professional dog trainer in order to know how to overcome the challenges of the very first week with a puppy. Yes, there are numerous tips and tricks but, luckily for you, we’re eager to share them. So keep on reading!

The first week comes down to helping your puppy settle in the new environment. In fact, it’s all about creating positive vibes and pleasant first impressions. What you might not know is that you absolutely need to go slow with the pup in the first few days. We get it. You can’t wait to have adventures with it and you will get there but don’t rush it. Your puppy will need some time to explore the new setting, learn the house rules and start feeling at home.

In addition, don’t start showing the puppy to all your friends and neighbors immediately. The pup won’t go anywhere and you can do that later during the first month. But, the first week is not the right time to introduce it to everyone. In fact, you should focus on allowing your puppy to get to know you. If you start introducing it to many different people all at once, it will feel overwhelmed and confused. And we certainly don’t want that to happen, do we?

1. Getting used to the crate
First off, you need to know that putting the puppy in a crate and closing the door is not how things work in the puppy world. In fact, you’ll need to take one whole day to introduce your pup to the crate before the puppy starts using it for real. We recommend starting by making the crate utterly comfortable. So, throw some blankets and towels in it right away. Also, we’d say that you shouldn’t spend much money on the bedding before you learn if your puppy has a thing for destroying it.

Start by opening the crate door and simply letting your buddy sniff around and investigate. Then, throw some treats inside and make sure to praise her when she gets them. Please, don’t force the puppy in. You won’t be of any help if you do that.

Also, you’ll need to keep the crate door open all day and just keep tossing treats and toys into it. The puppy will begin looking at the crate as if it was a heaven filled with joy and happiness.

Finally, when you manage to get your puppy to joyfully enter the crate, you should start closing the door behind it. Go slowly and keep the doors closed for a couple of seconds at first. Then gradually work your way up. And, make sure to always open the crate door if the pup gets agitated.

2. House-training rules
Before you start the house-training process, we have a few important guidelines for you:

Don’t let it out of sight! Yes, it sounds like too much but it’s best if you keep an eye on your puppy when it’s wandering around the house. When you can’t watch it, leave it in the crate. What you need to know is that dogs consider their crates their bedrooms, which means that they won’t soil them.
Take it to the bathroom frequently. Naturally, puppies don’t have the ability to control their urges. That’s why you’ll need to take it out almost every hour just to make sure you don’t have any “accidents”. Also, we recommend rewarding your puppy for good behavior when it comes to potty training. So, every time it goes in the right place, give it treats and praises!

3. The first few nights
Getting through the first few nights with your puppy won’t be easy but we’ll try to give you tips on how not to make it more difficult than it should be. There are two simple rules you need to understand:

The puppy will surely get scared at night
Be prepared to lose some sleep over that

Firstly, you need to make a decision on where your puppy will be sleeping. We would recommend letting it sleep in your bedroom, close to you. That way, your puppy will be feeling less scared and it will feel safe next to you. As a result, the puppy will be less likely to howl and be anxious. Remember, it doesn’t have to be like that forever, it’s just for the first few nights.

Secondly, you should set up its bed. If you got it to get used to the crate, use that and let it sleep in its crate. Just make sure to place the crate near your bed. That way, if it’s being restless or agitated, slowly reach over the crate and assure it that you’re still there. In case the puppy still freaks out when you close the crate door, try using a dog bed and put a leash that’s attached to a steady piece of furniture, such as the leg of your bed.

What’s more, you’ll want to take it to the potty area right before going to bed. Once you’ve done that, you can put it to sleep and give it a chew toy. The chances are the puppy will be whiny for a while, but it will stop soon. And when the pup stops whining, toss another treat to the crate to reward it for being quiet.

4. Going to the vet
The most important thing during the first week is to take the puppy to the vet. That way, you’ll learn right away what vaccines the puppy should get, whether it has worms or not, as well as just get additional information about her health.

Take the first visit to the vet as an opportunity to get your puppy used to the experience. Go an extra mile in order to make this trip positive. Try giving it treats and playing with it. Keep it busy with that while the vet’s doing their job. That way, a vet visit will become habitual and you’ll have fewer difficulties at the vet’s office when the pup grows older and larger.

5. Name the pup
We all want our puppies to learn their names as quickly as possible. So, start by keeping treats near you and, when you call your puppy by its new name, toss one treat right away. Even if the puppy doesn’t turn around, make sure to give it treats. As a result, the puppy will associate the name with the treats popping around from nowhere and it will become more responsive to it.

6. Teach your puppy good manners
The first week is not enough time to teach your puppy “obedience”, however, there are some training games you should play in order to teach the puppy good manners.

Make sure you give your puppy plenty of chew toys. Chewing can be part of the regular teething process but it’s also something dogs do even when they grow older. Therefore, make sure you provide the pup with many chew toys and save your furniture, slippers, and remotes from being chewed on. We recommend having more than one chew toy. That way, the pup won’t get bored with it easily. Finally, every time you see the puppy chewing their toy instead of your things, go ahead and toss a treat.
Play with the puppy! Well, you need to be honest and admit that playing with your puppy is why you got them in the first place. So go ahead and play! You can play the regular Hide-and-Seek or Pass the Puppy games. We have a lot of good games that will help you bond with your puppy and teach the puppy good manners as well.

6.1 Fetch!
This one is a pure classic. In order to teach the puppy how to play fetch, you’ll need two toys. Start by throwing one toy, and when the puppy grabs it, start waving with another one. That way, the puppy will come running back to you. Finally, when it gets to you, take the first toy from it gently and throw the second one.

6.2 Toy-on-a-string
This game is perfect for those puppies that need a little push in order to start chasing a toy. Some dogs don’t like playing fetch and this is a great alternative to make them chase after a toy.

6.3 Chase
For this game, you’ll need to get down and gently shove the puppy around and run away. Don’t run too fast, though. Let the puppy catch you and reward your pup once it does that. Attention here, guys! We strongly advise you not to let the puppy be the runner. You certainly don’t want to teach the puppy how it should be running away from you. Always remember to let the puppy chase YOU and not the other way around.

Every puppy loves games but they don’t have long attention spans. Therefore, we’d recommend having a couple of short intervals of playing games throughout the day.

Alright, guys! We think you’re ready now. Even though you’re no dog trainer, you’ve got this! So, go ahead and spend some quality time with your puppy. Make sure you are both enjoying it and the “tough” first week will go smoothly.

7 Halloween Tips from Top Dogs of Naples

swflk9trainer@gmail.com (Allison Christian) — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 15:17:57 GMT

As dog lovers, Halloween is a holiday most of us like to share with our furry friends. However, it’s important to keep in mind that Halloween fun can introduce risk that you and your pet don’t face on a daily basis. As Naples Top Dog Experts, we would like to take the opportunity to provide some tips to make your Halloween celebration fun and safe, for both you and your pets!

1. TRICK-OR-TREAT CANDIES ARE NOT FOR PETS.

All forms of chocolate—especially baking or dark chocolate—can be dangerous, even lethal, for dogs and cats. Symptoms of chocolate poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, rapid breathing, increased heart rate, and seizures. Halloween candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can also be poisonous to dogs. Even small amounts of xylitol can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar and subsequent loss of coordination and seizures. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

2. DON'T LEAVE PETS OUT IN THE YARD ON HALLOWEEN.
Don’t leave your dog outside unattended, even for a moment! Even dogs that are in a fenced in yard may not be safe. Eggs, candy, and other thing, can be thrown over the fence and eaten by your dog. Sadly many kids will tease, taunt, and scare dogs on Halloween. Sadly, some pets have even been taken from their yards and end up missing .
Keep your dog on a leash at all times when you decide to take them outside to use restroom. Even the well-trained dog can be spooked by a strange looking person walking around the neighborhood. They may decide to bark at the person or even run away.

Instead of taking your dog trick-or-treating with you, please think about leaving him at home. Dogs that are naturally protective will have a hard time understanding why its not alright to bark at the dressed-up kids. Dogs that are at all skittish will have an especially stressful time, on a night-time walk, with kids running around, screaming from door to door. Although pay pet owner we like to include your dog in festive activities, but most dogs will be much happier in the quiet comfort of their own home on Halloween night

3. KEEP PETS CONFINED AND AWAY FROM THE DOOR AND DISTRACTED

If you think about how your dog reacts to the doorbell when it is someone they know, imagine how they will react when they see a stranger with a mask on. They obviously they don’t understand that it’s Halloween and people wear masks! Do not assume that your dog will enjoy greeting Trick-Or-Treating children. Think about putting him somewhere safe; like in a crate or different room, where he can’t see the strangers at the door. This also eliminates the risk of him bolting through the door, or eating some candy behind your back while you are distracted.

Give your dog something else to do (rather than barking at the door). If someone else is at home, have them play with the dog in a different room to help keep him calm. Give your dog something to chew on to distract them. Kongs or stuffed marrow bones can be yummy treats that help keep them occupied. Peanut butter, canned pumpkin, or canned dog food are all great ideas to put inside the Kong or bone. Great little tip I use is – prepare it beforehand you can put it in the freezer. That way it is ready when you need it; and because it’s frozen, it will take your dog longer to lick out.

4. KEEP GLOW STICKS AWAY FROM PETS.

While glow sticks can help keep people safe on Halloween night, they can add some unwanted drama to the holiday if a pet chews one open. The liquid inside glow sticks is non-toxic. Pets who get into a glow stick may drool, paw at their mouth, become agitated, and sometimes even vomit. Coates recommends that if your pet does chew on a glow stick, offer some fresh water or a small meal to help clear the material out of the mouth.

5. DON'T KEEP LIT PUMPKINS AROUND PETS.

If you are using candles to light your jack-o-lanterns or other Halloween decorations, make sure to place them well out of reach of your pets. Should they get too close, they run the risk of burning themselves or causing a fire.

5. KEEP OUT OF REACH ALL ELETRIC AND BATTERY-POWERED HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS OUT OF REACH.

Electric and battery-powered Halloween decorations are certainly safer than open candles, but they still can present a risk to pets. Pets who chew on electrical cords can receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock or burn. Batteries may cause chemical burns when chewed open or gastrointestinal blockage if swallowed. Shards of glass or plastic can cause lacerations anywhere on the body or, if swallowed, within the gastrointestinal tract.

6. DON'T DRESS YOUR PET IN A COSTUME UNLESS YOU KNOW THEY'LL LOVE IT.

If you do decide that Fido or Kitty needs a costume, make sure it isn't dangerous or simply annoying to your pet. Costumes should not restrict movement, hearing, eyesight, or the ability to breathe. Coates warns that pets who are wearing a costume should always be supervised by a responsible adult so that if something goes wrong, it can be addressed right away.

Don’t wait until Halloween night to put your pet in a costume for the first time. Any time you want to introduce your pet to anything new, do it slowly. Get your pet costumes early, and put them on for short periods of time. Make it a positive experience by offering lots of praise and treats. If at any time, your pet seems distressed or develops skin problems from contact with a costume, remove costume immediately. A festive bandana may be a good compromise?!

7. IDS, PLEASE!

If your dog or cat should escape and become lost, having the proper identification will increase the chances that they will be returned. Collars and tags are idea, but microchips offer permanent identification should the collar or tag fall off. Just make sure the information is up-to-date. Use Halloween as a yearly reminder to double check your address and phone number on tags and with the company who supports pet microchips.

Should You Hire a Dog Trainer? 5 Pup Problems That Will Only Be Solved by Obedience Classes

swflk9trainer@gmail.com (Allison Christian) — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 15:17:48 GMT

We all agree that dogs are just about the most amazing creatures that walk the Earth. Still, some of them do need a bit of help in learning to mind their manners. However, most of us are much too busy to sit down and work with our pups. Fortunately, we’re happy to pick up where you left off! A dog trainer will be able to gently point your dog in the right direction. At the end of one of our obedience classes, your dog will be happier than ever, and you’ll be wondering why you didn’t send him or her off to doggy school earlier!

While not all dogs need obedience classes, most of them would benefit from working with a dog trainer. And there are about 5 behavioral problems that will only be solved by one-on-one time with a trainer.

Growling and Biting

As many dog owners know, nipping and growling can signify all sorts of moods. Some dogs exclusively growl and bite when provoked, but a lot of them also growl when they’re playing. Every dog owner needs to be able to tell how their dog is feeling. So, while a gentle nip or two can just mean that your dog is trying to get your attention, a stronger bite could mean the beginnings of a real problem.

At the first sign of aggressive growling, try to calm your pup. If they’re repeatedly growling and nipping, especially around other people, kids, or dogs, you should consider obedience training. Rather than forcing your dog to wear a mouth guard, hire a dog trainer.

Leash Pulling

Many people are surprised when they realize just how dangerous leash pulling can be for both the dog and the owner. Some dogs can get so enthusiastic outside that they’re almost frantic. That causes them to pull on their leash.

When a dog pulls on the leash, a collar is actually a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, the dog is practically choking, since it’s feeling the force of its pulling against its neck. We’ve even had dogs start coughing because of their pulling. On the other hand, the choking sensation may be the only thing that’s stopping the dog from pulling even harder. Either way, many people have big dogs or even smaller ones that are stronger than they are. So they end up running to catch up to their dogs, or worse, falling. And if you let go of the leash, your dog could seriously hurt someone.

Jumping

Most dogs jump — it’s just a fact of life. And most of that time, that’s fine. After all, they’re doing it to show their love, so it shouldn’t be that big of a deal, right?

Well, it would be a pretty big deal if they hurt someone, which is always a possibility. For example, what if your dog jumps on the wrong person at the wrong time? In their excitement, most dogs could knock over a small child or an elderly person. Even worse, they could accidentally scratch someone. The dog doesn’t know any better. You, on the other hand, would feel horrible, and that’s only the best case scenario. The worst case is that you’d have to pay for medical treatment. So why not pay for a dog trainer instead and save yourself the hassle?

Running Through Open Doors

Plenty of dogs think of open doors as an invitation. Whether you’re letting guests in through the front door or simply going to the bathroom — many dogs will just bolt through any open door they see.

Just like jumping, door bolting can seem like a charming show of a dog’s overall enthusiasm. That’s exactly why you shouldn’t allow it. Without proper training, your dog could run out of the house and into oncoming traffic. The dog might even be in an aggressive mood when they run away. But after working with a dog trainer, your dog will learn to remain calm and wait for permission before crossing a threshold.

If your dog is showing signs of any of these behaviors, it’s best to nip them in the bud. After a while, dogs form habits, just like people do. But even old dogs with set habits can benefit from working with a dog trainer at Naples Top Dogs! One of our trainers will work directly with your dog to show you that even old dogs can learn new tricks.

Alpha Dogs, Dominance and Social Status

swflk9trainer@gmail.com (Allison Christian) — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 18:43:58 GMT

No matter how many people are in the world who treat their dogs as if they were their children, there are still people who believe that the only way to train a dog is by imposing dominance. In fact, some people think that dogs are just like wolves and that it’s best to just throw them on their backs and scream at them.

It’s needless to say that we wouldn’t do that to wolves unless we really wanted to get ourselves in trouble. So, even though this sort of training might work for some dogs, it is essentially bad advice. Nevertheless, capital punishment is very popular when it comes to dogs, and it is still a common occurrence to advise new dog owners to use it. It’s almost like advising new parents; only most parents wouldn’t push their babies onto the floor and scream at them, just so that they could show them who’s the real boss.

People who give these pieces of advice are usually those that grew up with dogs. However, growing up with dogs doesn’t make us experts. We don’t know other dogs — we only know those that our families kept. In order words, we’re not really qualified to say anything about dogs that are not in our care.

A professional’s take on dog training

Conflicting advice is common, and most people would just love to share their stories about dog training with us. However, we’ve seen how confusing these pieces of advice are, and it’s even worse when we talk to professionals.

More often than not, professional dog trainers also believe that being the alpha is the only way to train a dog. They believe that dogs need to be frightened and that they deserve the highest level of tough love. However, in the sea of these sorts of trainers, there are also those who don’t think that pet dogs know what dominance hierarchy is.

This “dominance hierarchy” way of thinking stems from the fact that people believe dogs are wolves. Yet, we fail to recognize the fact that even though they are the same species, they are not the same animals. In fact, dogs evolved from dogs that preferred to live independently, rather than in packs. These dogs used to go through villages, hoping to find something to eat. So how can we expect them to understand social hierarchies?

Social hierarchy

Our dogs have seen us struggle while trying to understand social hierarchy. However, they are not really affected by that way of thinking. If we could just ask them, we bet they would tell us that incorporating this hierarchy into dog training would be simultaneously simple and complicated. But how is that possible?

Well, when it comes to social hierarchies, we cannot just see them as linear pecking orders. We mustn’t simplify them, as they are not simple.

And that is where all the problems with dog training lie. “Show him who’s the dominant one here” is a common piece of advice most dog trainers, and even dog lovers, gladly throw at us. But do we actually know what dominance means?

Dogs act like wolves, and they need to be stopped. Or...do they?

Most of our assumptions about dog behavior in social surroundings are based on wolf behavior. And sure enough, they’ve given us a chance to get to know our pet dogs a little bit better.

There are some parallels between dogs and wolves. For example, dogs also guard their territory, and they have rituals when it comes to greeting other dogs. With their visual signals, they let other dogs know what their social rank is. Furthermore, when a wolf gives us a submissive grin, it’s the same grin a dog would show us.

However, some inaccuracies have seriously affected the way we train our dogs. People have made horrible assumptions about dog behavior, and those have led to the rather inhumane treatment of these poor animals.

The alpha roll-overs

Dog trainers and dog training enthusiasts swear by the alpha roll-overs.

The gist of this method is to grab the dog, throw it on its back and scream at it. The reason for using it is the fact that wolves also do the same thing.

But this sort of assumption is very inaccurate. In fact, when wolves feel tension in their social surroundings, they actually become passively submissive. They just roll over themselves! Therefore, just casually throwing the dog onto its back and screaming isn’t a natural occurrence in any wolf’s or any dog’s life — it’s just crazy behavior.

And we all know what happens when we decide to use this “technique” on our dogs. Most of the time, the dogs fight back. Why wouldn’t they? We are essentially attacking them out of nowhere and in a particularly vicious way. So the only result is a vicious dog — a dog that fights back, just like abused children.

When we believe that dogs are just cruel and we label them as vicious, we fail to recognize that they are sticking up for themselves. Thus, dominance is the only solution in the eyes of many people.

But cruelty is not dominance. It’s not what we believe it is, especially when it comes to dogs. It’s not a synonym for harsh training and essentially — violence.

Social status

For humans, social status is everything. It’s what determines the life we are going to lead once we are born, and we tend to respect it throughout our existence. So it’s not really strange to think about dogs in a similar way.

Dogs also have social status, and we see that whenever dogs greet each other. It has the same importance to them as it has to humans. And, of course, just like with humans, some dogs are of higher status, while others are low-ranking dogs.

With violent dog training, we actually fail to see the big picture. However, ethologists have facts that can help us understand how animals interact in social surroundings. Those facts can better our relationships with dogs and put everything in a different perspective. They can show us that violence is never the answer.

Dominance vs. aggression

Humans have observed animals for hours and hours, and there are some things that we’ve learned along the way. These things have been noticed in the behavior of a wide range of animals that prefer to live in groups, for example, chimpanzees and coyotes.

But, in order to understand why dominance isn’t something we should use to train our dogs, we have to differentiate aggression from dominance.

Dominance is all about social hierarchy. It is a position that implies that one individual has more freedom (in terms of social surroundings) than another one. Familiar, isn’t it? It’s the same position that makes some people more equal than other people. And, even though we might be egalitarians in our souls, we know our place. If the president stopped by our house wanting to chat, we would let him in. However, if we went to the White House for a casual chat about Game of Thrones, we would probably get tackled by security. It doesn’t work that way — because dominance and a higher social status remove the equality between us.

That is a great example of social hierarchy. Yet, just because some people have a higher status than others, it doesn’t mean violence breeds dominance. Yes, it is a way to gain power, but frankly, it’s not really a good one, is it?

If dominance bred violence, then it would imply that the individual could remain in a high position only through force and vigilance. But aggression cannot last forever. Fighting all the time for power is not only dangerous but also futile. Just ask predators. If violence was the only way to become dominant, then dogs wouldn’t even exist. With their sharp teeth and aggression, there wouldn’t be anyone left to be dominant.

So, in order to solve these issues, Mother Nature gave us social hierarchies. But in contrast to popular beliefs, these hierarchies are based on understanding. Their existence is, in essence, determined by the lack of violence.

Alpha-wannabes

When someone wants to be a leader, their character is what will determine how they become one. For humans, elections are a common method. For other species, coalitions and family relationships are the determining factors.

But there are those animals and humans that have a natural air of confidence around them. These individuals can take over a group with just their presence — they are, essentially, alphas.

This sort of confidence is a leadership quality, and all species value similar traits. For example, a sheepdog handler will always go for a courageous dog than a less confident one. Why? Because the former can actually convince the sheep to submit. In contrast, the latter has to use violence to get the sheep to do what it wants. It will bite and nip until sheep submit. There are even those dogs that will hold on for their dear life while grabbing onto the wool with their teeth and probably praying that the sheep listen to them.

The panicky dogs that use violence to get what they want are known as “alpha-wannabes.” And, of course, there are humans that are alpha-wannabes as well. Most often, they are bosses and dog owners who use violence so that they can feel like alphas at least once in their lives.

The other end of the spectrum

The worst job for a dog is probably being a pet dog of an alpha-wannabe. However, there is another issue that’s entirely in contrast to those types of owners. There are, in fact, dog owners that let the dogs be dominant all the time.

We’ve all seen these people at least once in our lives. They are the owners that spoil their dogs rotten. They give them massages and treats, and they drag them everywhere with them.

But make no mistake — dogs eating quality food or sleeping in comfy beds is not the problem. It’s the owners. They cannot bear to deny them anything.

This sort of dog training, or better, the lack of it, is again, not good for our dogs. More often than not, these dogs are frustrated. They never learned how to accept NO for an answer, which leads to temper tantrums. And sure, it’s cute when a puppy has one, but we wouldn’t want to see a Rottweiler throw one at any given moment.

Since these dogs are catered to every day, just one single NO can flip the switch. They were already nervous before that because they weren’t actually being taken care of. So, in just one second, they can refuse to accept the fact that their owners have decided not to give them the ball they wanted. And, just like that, they can also become violent and insufferable.

The world is a scary place, even for dogs

No matter if we love dogs or not, we have to be aware of the fact that they are sometimes just as scared as we are. And, just as we want to have someone to lead the way to a better life, they want that too.

Nowadays, leadership has many negative connotations. However, there are people who believe that benevolent leaders are the right choice. And in most cases they are, but it’s very hard to protect others without boundaries. That’s why owners that spoil their dogs are usually unsuccessful in training them properly. In essence, we, and the dogs as well, all want good leadership because we prefer not to make some decisions ourselves. Instead, we want to count on someone else for safety and wise decision-making.

Final thoughts

Benevolent boundaries are desirable when training alpha-wannabe dogs. If we let them do what they want all the time, they can easily become problematic. They can become violent while seeking social control, even though they are rather insecure on the inside.

That’s why it’s difficult to find a balance between dominance, social status and the way we treat our dogs. It seems simple at first, but it’s actually complicated.

Both dogs and people need social status when living in organized groups. However, social status is not gained through violence nor is it a synonym for dominance. What’s more, it’s just one aspect of our dog-human relationship.

We have to be aware of the fact that dominance has been overemphasized. We have been served inaccurate information about it, and throughout history, people have mistreated dogs because of it. But, if we put in the effort and really understand the essence of dominance, then our dogs might be a lot happier.

This change in perception of dog owners has been building up for a while, and luckily, most people have already turned their backs to the “dominance” training methods. However, we mustn’t indulge our dogs either.

These animals are in our care, and they cannot quit their jobs as pets at any given moment. Because of that, we have to be their friends and their playmates. But, at the same time, we must provide them with benevolent leadership. Essentially, we should be their parents and their teachers at the same time.

Dominance Dog Training Debunked by Top Dogs

swflk9trainer@gmail.com (Allison Christian) — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 13:38:15 GMT

Last week, while conducting an initial consultation with a very young puppy, the proud new puppy parents were showing me the shot records from the vet. Highlighted was recommended reading by the famous TV Celebrity “dog trainer.” I gasped, I questioned, and the two new owners both assured me that the vet recommended this reading. My head was spinning.

Yes, I get it, your neighbor has a dog and is well behaved, so they are versed to give you advice on what to do and what not to do. It is entirely different when the advice is coming from a professional. While the advice, theories, recommendations differ from neighbor to neighbor, but even worse, from the “professionals.” As WE, the more intelligent being, try to figure it out, our dogs are just sitting back, licking their paws and wondering when and if are WE ever going to get it right?

The Alpha Dog Myth

There’s no chance that there’s anyone who hasn’t already heard of the “alpha dog” myth! This myth is everywhere. We hear about it on TV and read about it in books and on the Internet. What’s more, we even hear vets and educators talk about it all the time. The core concept of this principle is to use force and intimidation techniques to overpower the dog, making him submissive. What they are saying is that we as human beings need to be the alpha.

Well, they are all in the wrong, and we will explain why. But before delving further into the matter, we’d like to introduce everyone to the origins of this myth.

In the 1930s and the 1940s, Rudolph Schenkel, an animal behaviorist, conducted a study about captive zoo wolves. He realized that wolves in a pack fight for dominance and that the one that wins this fight is the alpha wolf. This approach served as a foundation for the study of canine social behavior, and they named it “the dominance theory.”

Essentially, observations of wolf behavior in the zoo were erroneously linked to how wolves behave in the wilderness. Afterward, that same behavior was linked to how domestic dogs behave as well. Schenkel was not the only one who found out that wolves do engage in violent and bloody battles for the throne. However, it’s imperative to emphasize the environment these wolves were in during the observations.

What’s Wrong With The Dominance Theory

The main issue with this theory is the fact that this behavior can’t be taken as natural and normal due to the artificiality of the environment. Hence, wolves in the wilderness don’t necessarily behave in this manner. It’s quite the opposite. A wolf pack is a family. It consists of a male and a female wolf - the mated pair - and their offspring. In some occasions, it’s possible that a couple or more families group together. Once the offspring mature, they leave the pack and go their way, leaving the mated pair as the only long-term members.

On the other hand, there’s inevitable tension among wolves that are held captive and forced to live together for a long time. This tension builds up and leads to bloody battles between mature adults. However, this situation isn’t common in a natural, wild pack.

Why Should We Avoid Dominance-Based Training of Our Dogs?

As we were able to see, this was all about wolves, not dogs. So, why should we even draw a parallel between the two? Well, the logic behind “the alpha dog theory” considers dogs wolf descendants. And, since wolves live in hierarchical packs, someone figured that humans need to take action and dominate their dogs. “Alpha Rolls” suggesting grabbing your dog and throwing them on their side, scream in their face, to show them that you are the dominant figure, Wolves do not do this. Wolves, only on the occasional times of social tension, the individual wolf with place themselves on their back, known as “passive submission.” We humans, often think our dog is asking for a belly rub. Meanwhile, they are still licking their paws and now possibly scratching their heads...

Yes, we all know that dogs are descendants of wolves, and dogs, like wolves, can be territorial and ritualized. But, on the other hand, dogs differ from their ancestors in so many ways. That can be an entirely different blog.

The Origins of Positive-Reinforcement Training

Dr. Ian Dunbar is the founder of the APDT, which stands for the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. His organization consists of nearly 6000 members across the world. The focus of APDT is the promotion of reward-based training methods. Therefore, what they are really working on is raising awareness and reducing the use of aversive methods.

This organization paved the way for a dog-friendly approach to training. And, the situation started to look way more positive for our dogs. Thanks to that, dog trainers, vets and professional educators started passing this positive method onto their clients. The goal is to reduce, and eventually completely stop, abusive methods such as alpha roll, scruff shake, ”dominance,

Still, there are some people that are sticking with the dominance model. They argue that there are dogs that have been trained with success according to the “alpha dog” model.

“Positive punishments,” or commonly known harsh force-based methods, are a part of the operant conditioning. This principle really works, and it’s extremely effective in eliminating certain behaviors. Positive punishment, adversives, are never a way to train your dog.

Violent behavior leads to a more violent behavior.

Assuming that we want to follow the dominance method if our dog fights back, we would need to fight back even harder. That way, we would be establishing ourselves as the “alpha,” or the pack leader. However, it’s very likely that this would escalate into a more violent and possibly unsafe situation.

Sometimes, a dog might not submit, or he might submit temporarily. In any case, he will erupt aggressively as soon as a human does something violent or inappropriate to him. If that happens, according to the dominance-theory training, trainers consider dogs incorrigible. In addition to that, dog trainers insist that the dog might be an unsuitable family companion, leading to a death sentence. It’s needless to say that, had they treated them appropriately in the first place, the majority of dogs would be perfectly fine.

For more on how positive dog training got started read: The Origins of the Positive Dog Trainer

How “Softer” Dogs Suffer Because of the Dominance Method, Too

On the other hand, dominance does nothing good even for dogs that are “soft” and calm. Essentially, dogs can see the unnecessary rank insertion of a dominance dog trainer as a threat, which can easily damage them. In case that happens, the dogs will become fearful and mistrustful.

Human Beings Aren't Dogs, and Dogs Know That

Lastly, letting ourselves think that dogs would even consider us a part of their canine pack is ridiculous! Dogs are aware of our body language, and they know that it differs strongly from their body language. They are absolutely aware of how inept we are at reading and understanding the canine body language. What’s more, they know how equally inept we are at imitating it as well.

So, it’s crucial that we learn how to co-exist with dogs and stop trying to insert ourselves into their social structure. Once we manage to maintain peace and start working on positive reinforcement, we will be one step closer to a harmonious relationship.

How Dog Trainers Overcome Distractions

swflk9trainer@gmail.com (Allison Christian) — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 13:10:43 GMT

Distractions are going to happen, in fact they a part of training your dog. This article will give you perspective and a plan.

If we are learning how to train dogs, we are probably familiar with the method that encourages teaching new behaviors in an environment that isn’t distracting and then slowly starting to include distractions until the behavior becomes well grounded.

This method is one of the easiest ways to teach a dog something he will be able to perform regardless of distractions. Unfortunately, we can’t always control distractions - they are inevitable.

In fact, it’s unrealistic to wish for a distraction-free environment until the dog learns all we want to teach him.

One of the things that everyone who wants to become a positive dog trainer must learn is how to train their dogs to be tranquil and well mannered when there are new people in the house. We discuss skills such as staying on a mat, sitting for greeting, letting go, and making dogs less sensitive to the doorbell sound and knocking.

For the most effective results, we need to practice these skills with our dog in an environment that isn’t distracting before we work our way up to a highly distracting situation, such as real guests coming over. However, it’s highly likely that we will have visitors before we manage to train our dog fully.

Thus, it’s essential that we comprehend distraction levels and learn how to slowly add distraction to training. But, it is equally important to have a short-term plan for unplanned situations. Many people start feeling confused and guilty, and they aren’t sure how to behave when the real world takes charge, and their dog still isn’t fully trained to handle it.

That happens because, for many people, the gap between the teaching process and the result isn’t always clear.

When we feel like we are in over our heads, here is what can help:

Management
If we find ourselves in a situation that we cannot turn into a training opportunity, we should make a pause without feeling bad about it. For example, if a delivery guy is knocking on our front door, and we just need to sign the papers and get our package, that’s what we should do. It’s okay to distract our dog with a toy or put him in another room until the mailman goes away.

Or, if we are preparing dinner for a dinner party and our dog is lying next to our feet, we can skip the training session and crate the dog. Once a group of people fills the room, it’s totally fine to take the dog to our neighbor or crate him in the bedroom; that doesn’t mean that we are avoiding our training responsibility. On the contrary, it’s a smart move that will save both the dog and ourselves from unnecessary stress. That will, in turn, result in fewer mistakes and less inappropriate behavior.

Baby Steps
Ideally, when someone knocks on our door, we would want our dog to stay on his mat and wait for permission to greet the guests with a well-mannered sit. However, we cannot expect our dog to act in such a way when he is still not ready.

What we can do is work at our dog’s level and take baby steps until we get ready to execute the perfect plan. For example, we could call our guests before they arrive, advising them to bring treats. Then, we can put our dog on a leash, answer the door, and tell our guests to ask the dog to sit for treats.

Also, if we worry about inappropriate behavior, it might be a good idea to crate our dog or keep him on a leash throughout the whole visit. Bringing our dog for short sessions of treating/sitting with our visitors is another option.

Although these scenarios aren’t ideal, we should remember that they aren’t permanent either; they are important stages of the training process. After all, there is no point in struggling and getting frustrated while attempting to make our dog do things that he isn’t ready to do yet.

Careful planning
While our dog is still untrained, we may run into various challenges throughout the day. It’s important to think ahead and predict what those challenges might be. If our dog and we find ourselves in an uncomfortable situation, and neither of us knows what to do about it, we will inevitably start feeling frustrated. What’s more, if we start panicking, that will make things even worse.

So, we need to plan our day ahead: think about where we’re going, who and what we may run into, etc. Then, taking our dog’s current training level into consideration, we must think about what we can do in those situations.

For instance, if we have to take our dog to the vet, we need to consider a number of things before we even get out of the house. What might we encounter in the car, in the parking lot, in the waiting room, in the exam room, and so on? Do we have a plan of action? How will our dog react? What can he do? How can we react to our dog’s behavior?

In a crisis, some basic skills can make a big difference. For example, commands such as “Let’s go” and “Leave it”, or simply touching our dog or calling his name can be effective. Also, in order to maintain control, we should always have high value treats nearby. Check out our article on basic positive dog training techniques here: Positive Dog Training Basics

We need a specific plan of action for every possible scenario. Whatever happens, we need to be prepared to react appropriately. If our dog gets upset and starts barking at another dog in the parking lot, we can use the trained “Let’s go” and move our dog away, thus creating some space. Once we separate them, we can use some target training, as well as generous rewards, to keep our dog entertained and focused on us. Bringing a toy might work, too.

Back to School For Puppies!

swflk9trainer@gmail.com (Allison Christian) — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 18:22:31 GMT

It’s nearly time to head back to school, and some cute little puppies are patiently awaiting their opportunity to thrive. Consider giving your pup some back to school puppy training that will give him or her the chance to develop in to a top dog!

By making this wise decision, your little pup will learn all the skills needed to shine in this big world. They’ll learn that household appliances aren’t going to hurt them, learn the most important dog training commands and many of other doggy skills that will help them develop into mature members of the family. And most of your dog will learn obedience and will be happy! Click the button below to learn more about our puppy training classes.

Let make a difference together,
Allison

Adjusting to Life with Pets

Wed, 08 Aug 2018 15:22:22 GMT

Helpful Tips for Starting Out

Congratulations on your decision to bring a pet into your life! You will likely look back on this moment as the beginning of a beautiful friendship. As with any relationship, there will be some adjustments as you both get used to being around each other. Here are a few tips to help smooth out the bumps along the way.

What Pet to Choose

Deciding which pet to adopt into your family is a little more complicated than picking out the first cute face you see. Ask yourself a few questions first: If you have other pets, how will the new pet interact with them? Is your family ready for whichever pet you bring home? Are you limited by the space where you live? How active of a pet are you looking for? Can you afford to take care of your pet? Who will watch over your pet when you’re away from home? Can you provide the attention your pet will need? You are taking responsibility for another life, so it’s important to make sure you’re up to the challenge.

Get the House Ready

You may be prepared mentally to bring a pet into your house, but it’s a different story when it comes to actually getting your house ready. Start with your family members. Everyone should be aware of the new member about to join the family, and everyone should know their responsibilities in regard to taking care of the new pet. If you have more than one pet, create separate areas for them, at least until they are used to each other. Also, do a sweep of the house to get rid of anything dangerous. Lock up chemicals, tie electrical cords out of the way, and keep dangerous items out of reach.

Take Your Pet with You

Once your pet is home, one of the best ways to get to know them is simply to spend time together. Take a few minutes to play with them every day and you’ll quickly build trust and rapport that will last. You can even take your pet along with you during your daily life. If you’re heading out to go hiking and camping , for example, take your dog with you. Plan ahead so you have ID tags on your dog in case they wander off. Bring a leash to keep your dog close, pack food and water dishes, bring plastic baggies to pick up doggie poop, and consider taking your dog for some training walks beforehand to make sure they can handle it. Be aware of camping and hiking etiquette, and make sure your dog is not bothering other hikers and campers.

Help with Addiction Recovery

If you or a loved one are in the process of recovering from an addiction, a pet can be beneficial to that process. First, a pet can create an important new relationship that gives the recovering addict unconditional love and acceptance. This can help addicts learn to love others again in the future. Pets also give the recovering addict an important but not necessarily demanding responsibility that can lay the groundwork for future important responsibilities as well. An addict’s relationship with their pet will reflect the work they put into it, just like in life.

Now that you’ve seen various aspects of what life with a pet will entail, you’re more prepared to bring your new friend home. Take your time with each choice along the way, and in no time, you’ll be up and running like you’ve been a pet owner for years. Welcome to your new life!

Jessica Brody of Ourbestfriends.pet

Does Your Dog Need a Trainer or a Behaviorist?

swflk9trainer@gmail.com (Allison Christian) — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 14:39:56 GMT

Does your dog need a trainer or a behaviorist?

Humans and dogs have been coexisting for a hundreds of thousands of years, so it’s not uncommon by now that dog owners often turn to professionals to alter various parts of their dog’s behavior. Hiring the services of dog trainers or dog behaviorists can be baffling if you don’t understand the difference between the two.

Dog trainers can be self taught, for example the “Big Box” Pet stores offer a 6 week online course then their employees are ready to be on the floor “training dogs”. There are also many trainers that attend a training academy or have learned over years of knowledge. There are trainers that specialize in obedience, rally, agility, board and train, puppy trainers and pet dog trainers. Dog trainers often work with dogs that exhibit problematic behaviors but a good trainer knows their limits and will refer a case out if it is something that they know they cannot handle.

The Behaviorist’s goal is to find out a dog psychology and the issues and start shaping their behavior by using methods such as Counter Conditioning, Desensitization (they go hand and hand), Classical, Operant, Pavlov or Skinner ring a bell? This means that Behaviorists are better prepared to deal with dogs that have already developed some kind of negative association, as they focus on identifying and treating the cause of the behavior. In a sense, they’re dog therapists. Many trainers with years of experience eventually start to work on some level of behavioral issues.

Many, too many dogs these days are fearful, aggression, have phobias, compulsions, separation anxiety, coprophagia, destructive chewing, mounting, digging, resource guarding are just to name a few. Behaviorists can objectively observable and quantifiable behavioral events, in contrast with subjective mental states. Trainers who have developed their own methods of “behavior modification” that use aversives, leash jerks, prongs, electric collars truly lack the understanding of what behavior modification is and the science that backs it.

Allison is a member of Association of Professional Dog Trainers, International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, AKC CGC Evaluator, Dunbar’s Dog Behavior,and Training Academy, and Maddie’s Fund. Allison states that behaviorists and trainers can have a slightly different approach for their dogs and their owners, but the two professions can work hand in hand in order to help troubled dogs. And if a trainer is qualified in both, the potential is great.

Naples Top Dogs trains a wide variety of dogs and also offers behavior modification. She consults with dogs that have behavioral issues such as fear aggression in dogs, and never hesitates to leverage her behaviorist approach if the situation requires it.

Whether you have a dog who underwent some kind of emotional damage or a puppy who needs training to service a wounded war veteran; both dog behaviorists and dog trainers are equipped to help make this world better for dogs and humans alike.

Also read Allison's article on Dog Training Basics: https://www.naplestopdogs.com/positive-dog-training-basics

Leapin' Livers! Don't Feed Your Puppy From A Bowl

swflk9trainer@gmail.com (Allison Christian) — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 14:30:56 GMT

Use treats until your dog is perfect.

The very best training treat is regular kibble from your puppy’s daily rations. The #1 single, the best piece of advice for any puppy or dog owner, is DON’T FEED FROM A FOOD BOWL until you can honestly say that your dog is perfect for you. Instead, weigh out your dog’s daily ration in the morning and use each piece of kibble for classical conditioning and teaching basic manners. In the evening, soak the leftover kibble in water, stuff the moist mush into Kongs and place in the freezer for the next day — Kongsicles!

I have a list of 101 Things you may teach a puppy/dog using a single piece of kibble, for example, to love children, men, visitors, strangers, other dogs and other animals (classical conditioning) and to teach come, sit, lie down, stand, stay, roll over, heel, loose-leash-walking, hustle, steady, backup, beg, bow, Bang! (rollover-stay), fetch, find, etc., etc., etc. Kibble is also invaluable as a lure to entice puppies to chew toys and for teaching Shush on Cue.

Enhanced Kibble for Specific Uses — Occasionally you need a higher value treat, for example, for children to use when handling, training and playing with your puppy, as a reward for Eliminating on Cue (six sequential enhanced treats), and during the first few training sessions when teaching Come-when-Called or Emergency Distance Sits in the park and on walks.

For dogs, food is all about SMELL, not taste and so, place a couple of cups of kibble inside a container with just a sprinkle of freeze-dried liver powder, or crumbled cheese or bacon, secure the lid, leave for a day and now you have the same healthy kibble but it smells like Heaven, (well, actually, live liver, bacon or cheese).

Ziwi Peak and Liver Treats are the two very best kibbles to use as training treats. Both are excellent foods but it is the shape of the kibble that makes it so useful for training. Each piece of kibble is rectangular, flat and thin and so, may be broken into four or eight pieces. Classically conditioning dogs to like people and other dogs and progressively desensitizing handling routines requires at least a hundred food rewards per training session. Most kibble is too large, but for example, just 13 pieces of Ziwi may be broken (or cut) into 104 smelly food rewards.

I prefer to use kibble as training treats rather than cheese, salami, hot dogs, peanut butter, or commercial teats because it is easier to calculate the puppy/dog’s daily calorie intake.

For more training ideas be sure to read Ten Quick Dog Training Tips: https://www.naplestopdogs.com/ten-quick-dog-training-tips

Summer 2018 Professional Pet Sitter Campaign Press Release

swflk9trainer@gmail.com (Allison Christian) — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 12:47:03 GMT

Leave pets in good hands this summer, Naples Top Dogs urges pet owners to do their research before booking pet-care providers this summer travel season and throughout the year.

This year 88 million Americans plan to take family vacations, according to a AAA survey . And just like savvy travelers do their research before selecting hotels and tourist attractions, Naples Top Dogs is reminding pet owners to take a closer look before selecting someone to watch their pets while they’re away.

Naples Top Dogs which offers pet-sitting services in Naples, Fl advises pet owners to do their research to ensure they are hiring professional pet sitters for their pet-care needs.

“When it comes to finding pet care, don’t prioritize convenience over quality,” explained Naples Top Dogs, owner Allison Christian. “Just because you can quickly find and book the services of a pet lover with a profile on a pet-sitting or dog-walking app doesn’t mean you are choosing a qualified pet-care provider.”

“Pet owners should take a closer look to ensure they are hiring not just a pet lover, but a pet lover who is also a true pet-care professional,” Ms. Christian added.

Allison Christian is a member of Pet Sitters International (PSI), the world’s leading educational association for professional pet sitters and dog walkers.

“It is important pet owners understand that pet sitting is a professional career and professional pet sitters offer peace of mind that other pet-care options cannot,” said PSI President Patti Moran.

PSI advises pet owners to schedule an initial consultation with a potential pet sitter prior to booking services and offers a free Pet Sitter Interview checklist on its website.

With the growth of the professional pet-sitting industry, pet owners don’t have to rely on untrained or unwilling friends, family members or neighbors—or “pet sitters” who have listed their services online but lack the experience, education and insurance needed should a pet emergency or other situation occur.

“For pet owners’ peace of mind, my business is insured, bonded, licensed to do business in Collier County, Fl and provides client references,” said Ms. Christian. “I am also a Certified Professional Pet Sitter®, trained in pet first aid and happy to show proof of a recent background check.”

Professional pet sitters come to clients’ homes, ensuring that pets’ routines are uninterrupted, exposure to illness is minimized and they don’t experience the stress of a new environment.

“Finding a pet sitter you trust allows you to truly enjoy your vacation,” Ms. Christian added.

To learn about PSI or download a free pet-sitter interview checklist, visit www.petsit.com . Thank you, NTD

Ten Quick Dog Training Tips

swflk9trainer@gmail.com (Allison Christian) — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 16:12:45 GMT

These simple tip will make a huge difference in your dog training efforts.

Keep training Short, Sweet and Successful 3-5 minutes 2-3x per day
Take baby steps, Duration, Distractions and Distance Always increase, but if failing, take a step back
Play with your dog, unwanted behaviors can be avoided with exercise and mental stimulation ie.puzzles
Always read what your dog is saying to you, they are talking but just not in english
Behaviors reinforced are behaviors that will increase, positive reinforcement will always get more from your dog, as long as they are rewarded in timely fashion
You can always tell your dog what not to do but instead tell your dog what you want them to do, set them up for success!
Patience and consistency are key! It will not happen overnight but it will pay off!
Always reward your dog for coming to you, even if they have done something wrong
Make sure your dog is receiving a proper diet, if you are feeding raw, or especially home cooked meals, make sure you are feeding appropriately
Make sure to socialize your dog, this does not always mean with other dogs, but with men, children, strangers and handicapped individuals.

Another excellent resource connected to this article is this compilation of outstanding books on dog training from Dogwise .

Check out more training tips here: Dog Training

Watch helpful dog training videos here: Videos
Dozens of great videos and live training.

A Dog Trainer's Story

swflk9trainer@gmail.com (Allison Christian) — Thu, 07 Jun 2018 17:43:37 GMT

From humble beginnings to top rated dog trainer.

Dog Trainer, named Allison. So do you train your dog? Many ask or do after their puppy have begun to act “in obedient”, jumping, nipping, potty training, etc. Why is this? The owner thought they could train their dog. The exact situation happened to me. Being around animals since I was a young child, since I was a Bronze Medalist Dressage rider, I THOUGHT I could train my own dog, so I purchased a puppy.

An adorable rednose pitbull, I named him Niche, after the German philosopher, with well behaved parents, so what was the big deal? In 2 weeks my apartment was turned upside down, from soiled carpets, eating my couch, jumping on every guest, I knew I was in big trouble with this now 23 lbs pitbull. So, I looked someone up in the yellow pages. The first dog trainer I saw, was the first dog trainer I called. Lynn came to my home for private sessions three times a week. This was back in the late 90’s when leash jerking was the only way it seemed to train your dog. Lynn had the #1 Doberman Pinscher in US, so why would I argue with her tactics.

I soon realized, ten years later, the positive methods were the best way to train a dog. I learned classical conditioning, operant conditioning, counterconditioning with desensitizing. I came back to Naples, where I studied therapy and service dogs, as I was originally trained for protection. We have numerous ways to protect ourselves, why not use a dog to save and better our lives? So, now today, I truly admire the work of Dr. Ian Dunbar, Dr. Sophia Yin, Patricia Mcconnell, Jean Donaldson, Karyn Prior and so many more. I truly hope that “old school” trainers are to change their ways, like I have done, to communicate with our dogs, man’s best friend.

Why you should never use Shock Collars

Thu, 24 May 2018 20:08:07 GMT

Use of shock collars is quickly being considered unlawful in other nations, and a day is coming...

Shocking, hanging, poking, hitting, spraying water in your dog's face, throwing chains at him or using techniques such as the "alpha roll" is totally unnecessary and unjustified. Simply, unwarranted. Kindly read that sentence once more. If you know someone who maintains that dogs try to “dominate” you and therefore require a training that is harsh, kindly do not hesitate to invite them to have a look at this column, including the “open letter” placed at the end of this column, authored by one of the greatest groups of professionals in the dog industry worldwide. You can also welcome them to visit “dominance theory debunked” on Google.

Use of shock collars is quickly being considered unlawful in other nations, and a day is coming – hopefully sooner and not later – when use of the same will be going against the law in the United States too. So, is there need to hold on till that particular day yet literally thousands of properly trained professional dog trainers can – immediately - have your dog trained positively to acquire the right behavior or even compete in the precise way you want?

You might ask whether harsh techniques are effective. Of course the answer is ‘yes’. Even so, why would you use them considering that there are numerous dog-friendly and positive dog training ways for teaching dogs? What’s the need of frightening or injuring your dog when we have the knowledge of getting each behavior we would want from dogs harmlessly?

Believe me, those who still depend on the painful and old fashioned techniques will be up in arms over my views on positive dog training and label me all sorts of names in the comments section. Well, they are free to do that the whole day, but it will still not influence my professional perspective – a scientific-based opinion following studies and facts (and, I am well-trained to utilize a shock collar).

Moreover, this writing is not addressed to them. I write to YOU, the owner of the dog. As the one who owns the dog, you are the most critical person in defending the dog and has the final say on the manner in which your dog ought to be handled by anyone. Kindly get widely informed and do your research prior to letting any person touch your dog. Ahead of commencing any training, let the potential dog trainer provide answers to these very important questions:

If my dog behaves right, what will you do?

Suppose my dog behaves in the wrong manner, what will you do?

Use of shock collars is painful and stressful on dogs. Research indicates that dogs who have undergone training with these collars wrapped firmly on their necks exhibit stress signs as they near the training location. Studies further explain that such dogs often work at a slower pace, intentionally and hesitantly. If you received a sharp pain in your neck anytime you got a wrong answer or made a blunder in the presence of your teacher, the rate of your heart will probably increase whenever you are around the teacher. In any case, you will shut down while learning out of fear of making an error. Thinking that a shut-down dog is equivalent to a well-trained one is a serious assumption made by some owners and trainers.

What will happen in training if after training the dog to “sit” he does not? Assume he does not sit due to greatly charged setting – where maybe he’s walking on a path and a number of unleashed dogs have approached him or passed by him. A large number of shock collar users choose to raise the shock level during such common happenings. They increase the punishment all in a bid to end the bad behavior. Some animals get familiar with the level of pain on the necks and persevere (I see numerous photos and videos of dogs with shock collars - not one shock collar but TWO – with the second one placed in the genital area of the dogs, sometimes ). If the dog still does not comply with the trainer’s instructions, the trainer usually increases the stimulation rate from the shock collar. Meanwhile, other dogs react by being extremely still in an attempt to prevent the pain.

Research studies prove that pain causes aggression. In addition, fear as well as anxiety can cause substandard performance. We’ve come a long way from the gone days in schools when kids were beaten by adults using paddies, rulers or even their hands so as to “teach the kid a thing or two”. It is high time we abandoned the use of outdated dog training equipment which instill pain and fear on dogs and try out positive dog training methods.

Remember, dogs who are frequently exposed to a shock – be it from a collar or other devices like underground fencing equipment – can all of a sudden “redirect” on the closest person or thing upon getting the shock.

How a PSA (Psychiatric Service Animal) can change lives of those with invisible disabilities.

swflk9trainer@gmail.com (Allison Christian) — Tue, 15 May 2018 12:55:05 GMT

A personal letter to 10 special people in my life. Life is different for me now.

A personal letter to 10 special people in my life. Life is different for me now.

Having a health problem that is somewhat invisible to others for example if there or no obvious signs such as a wheelchair or crutches, it is hard for them to understand. In this case, family, friends and co-workers may have difficulty understanding why certain activities are no longer possible: people with invisible health impairments can find themselves in the stressful position of justifying themselves, and often isolated. Guilt arises when I am unable to function as well as I did before.

I have virtually eliminated travel-missing family weddings (even my daughter’s) or even a much-needed vacation with my husband. Travel conditions that are problematic involve altitude or pressure changes (airplanes), motion patterns, disturbing lighting, and driving with the windshield wipers operating. Even simples changes in weather pressures affect me by increasing the pressure and noise level in my head.

Author Confidential

A PSA (psychiatric service animal) can change the life of someone suffering from isolation, fear and anxiety. The PSA can be trained to comfort their handler when they are feeling overwhelmed. It has been scientifically proven that just petting a dog can lower blood pressure and assist with the overwhelming feeling of a panic attack. A PSA service dog must be task trained specific to that person’s disability. A PSA differs from and ESA (Emotional Support Animal) because the disability must be so severe that the life must be dramatically altered that normal daily functions (shopping, public places, etc) no longer exist. A trained PSA will build back the confidence and assist in getting their handler feeler safer to go out to public places, while the life has dramatically changed for many people that have suffered from PTSD or another health issue that severely limits previous day to day functions, the bond alone between PSA and handler in unbelievably satisfying.

Examples of PSA tasks:

Ground Handler when experiencing panic attack, anxiety
Remind Handler to take medication or follow daily routine
Lead Handler to safe place
Retrieving identification documents
Find keys or medications
Wake up handler
Turn on lights
Alert of intruder
Stand between handler and others (non-aggressive)

It is the law that service dogs are permitted to go where the general public can go. Including privately owned companies like restaurants, motels, stores, transportation, movies, music concerts, sports stadiums and more. The American Disabilities Act (ADA) states that businesses let disabled people bring service animals with them onto premises in the same places that customers can go. Simply tell them this is your service dog, and you can enter a business. It is the law, a business is not permitted to question you about your disability, nor can they ask for proof that your dog has “certification”. Each state might have some additional laws that provide access to service dogs and their owners.
In addition, a service dog is also legally permitted to travel on any public transit system with their owner (not in cargo) including buses, trains, boats, planes, etc. For complete information on traveling with your service dog, please review the special set of regulations dealing with airline travel.

Dog Trainer Secrets for Amazing Dog Tricks!

swflk9trainer@gmail.com (Allison Christian) — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 23:49:39 GMT

Dog Tricks with Clickers from Naples top dog trainer

Dog Trainers have a bag full of training tips that always amaze. In this article, I am going to give you some of their best kept secrets. Clicker training can enable your dog to be equipped with skills such as bringing their food bowl or finding something within a little time frame. To be exact, this training can be done within ten minutes.
Highly trained dogs are well known to perform easy and complex tasks such as answering a phone, assisting the owner do shopping, recognizing low blood sugar, opening the fridge and many others. Making your dog be able to do these things can be done with 10 minutes daily training.
Clicker training.
Clicker training is the most certain way to equip your dog with complex skills. This type of training ensures the dog is aware that whatever he is doing is the right and correct thing. This can be accomplished even when you are not close to your dog. For example, you can click the eye in a slight motion. The behavior of your dog is enhanced through clickers. You should always accompany clickers with treats which serves as a motivation to the dog in that every click he follows he gets a treat.

Clicker method is a way in which dogs are trained is the surest most ultimate dog training styles if you wish to teach your puppy or new dog the standard commands such as sit and stay. This kind of training takes a bit of patience at first but will soon bring about wonderful results as you see your dog training efforts pay off.
How Clicker Training for dogs Works
The famous scientist Pavlov discovered that dogs could react in a predictable way to the sound of a bell ringing. He soon started preparing them by utilizing the ball purposely. With the clicker technique, you are training your dog to obey a particular command in conjunction with the sound of a special dog training clicker. The sound of this instrument can be heard from quite a distance away and even above the sound of traffic and other noisy distractions. When you give a command, and the dog obeys, you signal their cooperation with a click. The dog will soon associate the clicker and the praise and reward with the action such as sit or stay and want to be rewarded even more.
To get started with clicker training, all you need is a cheap clicker and a bag of your dog's favorite treats. Remember that the click is the reward for your dog obeying the command you give, along with a treat to reinforce his desire to be obedient.
Don't ever click without it being clear that the dog has obeyed your command and is being rewarded. Click and give them a treat. Try to be consistent with the words you use for the commands you give so that you don't confuse the dog. Command, click if he does well, then gives him a treat, is the correct order to follow each and every time.
How to Get Started With Dog Clicker Training
Always be clear about what you want the dog to do, sit, stay, come. Give the order firmly. If they do it, click and give a reward. Repeat this several times in order to reinforce the command and the click.
They will soon start to associate the sound of the click with the action you wish them to perform. The other benefit of dog clicker training is how instantaneous it is. The clicker gets their attention right away, making them alert and eager for a treat. The click is even faster than the word "Sit."
Continue with the training until the dog responds as quickly as possible to your command. Also, make sure you don't overdo the treats. Remember that dogs are eager to please, so a click and then words of praise and attention are just as good as a whole pile of dog treats.
Command-Based Dog Training
Once your dog is well-trained using the clicker, the next phases are to get him to respond to a spoken command so that you can continue your dog training even without a clicker. The dog will start to anticipate the command even before you click. He will also be eager for his reward. Command, click, treat, or praise will soon become second nature to you both, and the dog will associate him following its owners command and a nice reward or treat.
Dog clicker training enables you to give a sharp, short clear order or command to keep your dog under control no matter what the status. Dog clicker style of training is one of the easiest ways to train a cooperative and happy dog.
You may opt to purchase a special dog training clickers or utilize something that can produce a consistent noise. For doubling the clicker and the treat ensure that once you click wait for one second and give the dog a treat. A repetition of this for ten minutes will ensure the dog clearly understands what it needs to do to get the reward. Having achieved that one can proceed to more complex skills.
General tips;
You should always ensure the sessions of training are precise and short to make sure that concentration is enhanced. 10 minutes is enough. You should always treat your dog after a click precisely in three seconds. When equipping your dog with complex skills ensure the rewards are more.
Training should aways be fun for your pet, that being said ensure that every session ends on the high. If he doesn't get the skill right away ask him to do something he is familiar with and then give him a treat. Below are some training advice on how to shape behaviors using the clicker method.
Teaching attention.
The basics of equipping a dog with skills are to teach it how to pay attention. You should call his name and click and if he turns to you give him a treat. Do this continuously until it becomes a routine behavior.
Take it.
This can work with a toy. Put the toy to the ground and if he picks it up, give him a treat. If he does not pick it instantly do not panic, click and if it looks at the toy reward him, then click and if it moves closer to the toy reward him. Do this until he picks it up. When he finally picks it to repeat the process simultaneously to ensure he gets the behavior.
Bring it.
To get your dog to pick up a toy use the command 'take it'. Then give it a treat once it attempts to bring it to you. Do this simultaneously until it is reliable. Then use the phrase take it and bring it simultaneously.
Teach names.
If you want your dog to get you something specific be it your slippers or newspaper ensure it learns different names. To begin with, making your dog touch your hands using its nose and then click. Place the item in your hand and ensure it touches it once you call the items name out. Then click and reward it.
Speak.

For your dog to speak on any sound you make, ensure it gets excited until he barks. The click and treat. Then accompany a bark or speak with a reward. This can be done easily using the door bell, a click or a tap on the wall. Reward it if it barks or even attempts to.
Training your dog to get you something.
Since your dog has already had already learned to bring something just upgrade the process by saying the name then telling it to pick it and then bring it all together. Then reward it accordingly.
Teaching it to go to someone.
This can help especially in finding you kids. First, you teach it the name of your kid using a stick. Then click and when the dog goes to the child reward it accordingly. This is not a difficult task, and once it learns it, there is no going back.
Teaching the dog to find something or someone.
This begins with teaching your dog to recognize the smells of different objects or people. You can use a toy and make it smell it. Then hide the toy and allow your dog to find it. When it finds it reward him. You can use the phrase 'find' and progressively hind the object at more complex places. This will ensure he solely relies on the smell. Once it locates the object, reward it well.
There is, however, a small addition when it is looking for a person. If he already knows his name, then you can simply call out his name and command him to 'find.' If for example, he finds your child, award him with a treat.
If you have a dream of having your dog being so skilled, do not panic as you can train him using ten minutes a day. You will definitely reap the benefits of this because it will gain increased royalty.
Training review.
Every click comes with a reward. Your dog needs to know that a click means a treat.
Look for a reward your dog loves especially when its belly is empty and craving for something to eat.
Ensure that the sessions of training are precisely short to avoid boredom. The session should strictly not exceed ten minutes.
Every session should end on a high note. This can be achieved by ensuring the behavior it likes practicing comes at the end and the reward follows.
When the dogs fully understand the skill give it a lump-sum of rewards. This makes it understand it faired well.
If the dog struggles to get a given skill, stop practicing it at that moment and back on a trick it is well versed with.
This ensures the training always ends on a high note.

The Origins of The Positive Dog Trainer

swflk9trainer@gmail.com (Allison Christian) — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 16:04:23 GMT

Understanding Dog Trainer Psychology Origins

In the study of human psychology, there was a psychologist called Skinner, who was also considered a behaviorist as well. He studied the practice called Operant Conditioning, which basically is the study of behavior and its consequences. The subject chooses the behavior for some type of positive reward or possibly a negative reward. But nonetheless, the subject gets some kind of reward or consequence when performing a certain specific behavior. The actual definition is “Operant conditioning can be described as a process that attempts to modify behavior through the use of positive and negative reinforcement. Through operant conditioning, an individual makes an association between a particular behavior and a consequence.”

Skinner performed experiments with monkeys and mice to prove his theories of behavior. Basically, when training a dog, when the desired behavior is performed, the animal is positively rewarded with food. It is proved to be the most effective way to train a dog. In the animal world, other forms of training are outdated and some are considered abusive. “Red zoned” dogs, which are aggressive dogs, the media portrays outdated ways to train them. Red zones dogs actually need positive reinforcement training the most. It also has been proven that aggressive dogs benefit more than calm dogs when it comes to positive reward based training .

A canine is basically the same mental age as a human toddler, and an abusive approach is never the correct approach. The trainer is a human being, and a human has the brain capacity to shape and modify their behavior, depending on which situation they’re currently in. A canine does not have the luxury of having a super smart brain, and can not modify its behavior as easily. They are still animals, domesticated or not, no matter how human they may seem, whether they’re your best friend or exercise buddy, they still only have animal brains.

In the media there are plenty of wrong and terrible portrayals of dog trainers. They show outdated techniques and make the general dog owning public feel guilty for NOT using their techniques. These trainers bully the dogs, and seem to try and bully or shame the public as well. Being able to dominate a dog, does not make the dog obedient, it stresses the dog. Under stress and aggression, there is fear in the dog. Dogs have a natural drive within them, that drive makes them want food at all times. Humans can use that eternal drive within the dog and use positive reinforcement with food to actually have better outcomes, much better than domineering techniques. The behavior of canines should be shaped by positive reward behavior used by dog trainers, and all other techniques should be avoided.

Training a Dog To Behave When Guests Visit

swflk9trainer@gmail.com (Allison Christian) — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 20:13:13 GMT

Whether they intend to or not, having guests over can create problems...

Whether they intend to or not, having guests over can create problems with dog behavior. Even “dog-people” can cause problems and it’s something you need to be aware of. They might not mind your dog jumping up on them now, but give it a few months and see how they feel when it weights over 50 pounds and it needs to stop jumping on everyone.

Or maybe your guest tells you that they don’t mind your dog being so excitable, it’s just a puppy after all. Then they get them overexcited and they start running around and breaking things. A puppy is only a puppy for so long, but the idea that it’s okay to run around the home – which guests have instilled in them – will be around for much longer. What can you do in that situation? Most people will hide their annoyance and embarrassment behind a smile because no one wants to tell a guest that they can’t do something and get angry at them.

It’s time you did your pup – and yourself – a favor by telling them (as nicely as possible) that you are working on teaching your dog proper manners and obedience. If your guests don’t listen and the dog continues to misbehave then take the advice of a dog trainer and put them in their crate or on their leash so they can’t pick up any more bad habits.

Stay in Control

Sometimes the complete opposite happens. You have guests that don’t like dogs at all and are afraid of them. They would prefer your dog to leave them alone. This nervousness can trigger unwanted behavior from a dog. Dogs really can smell fear and they can recognise nervous behavior, which in turn causes them to become nervous and afraid themselves. The problem is exacerbated if you get annoyed with the guest or frustrated with the dog. It means we have lost control – either of our dog or ourselves – and that’s when the mistakes begin.

Even if your pup has been to a dog trainer in Naples and has become very well behaved, and the guests are just as good, problems can arise. Maybe we know our puppy does some really cute things and we want to show these off to our friends. It’s only natural to be proud of the latest addition to the family and want to show them off. Not to mention socialization is healthy for a new puppy. Even so, there are some dangers to be aware of.

We want to be sure our dogs behave when we have friends over, but guests themselves can be a massive distraction for our pups. They can become nervous, excited, awed, or cautious. There’s a chance your dog will respond in an entirely different way than expected. A good dog trainer knows that attempting to control the dog in this situation can lead to even more unwanted behavior.

Play it Safe

Play it safe with your dog when you have guests over. Stay in control and help them stay calm and learn how to be patient. Consider using a crate and a leash. Puppies have to understand that guests are coming to visit you and not them, and that they can only join in if they are invited. Train guests as well as dogs. Make sure they know to basically ignore a pup when they arrive and not treat them like the highlight of their visit. They shouldn’t touch or talk to the pup when they arrive, or it is just rewarding them for being overexcited and rude.

Make sure to maintain the positive habits your dog learns when greeting guests or they may start to regress and start to misbehave again when you have guests over. It’s great to have a dog that welcomes guests and behaves when they are around. They’ll make you proud and guests will love them.

Ten Dog Training Tips for Childproofing a Dog

swflk9trainer@gmail.com (Allison Christian) — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 13:25:04 GMT

It's vital to guarantee they are always safe around your pet dog if you have kids living in or visiting your house. The following ideas will assist avoid pet dog bites and keep both kids and your puppy safe.

The Social Puppy

swflk9trainer@gmail.com (Allison Christian) — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 13:09:25 GMT

It's a big world of experiences and dangers, but bonds are created through shared experience.

Dog trainers are always talking about Socialization and it is true that fraternizing with your dog is an excellent thing, not just for the dog.

Yes, your beloved friend has to learn how to be around other canines. However, many dogs probably are not going to far well in a team course and may put various other dogs in danger of a negative socializing experience.

However, many dog owners are completely oblivious to the process and activities that make for a great bonding time with their dog. For a dog to be properly integrated into society, its owner has to spend quality time interacting with the dog on a daily basis. In addition to the fact that the dog becomes acquainted with many new things, the owner will be able to build a closer relationship.

Some of the activities recommend by trainers that will help your socialization includes: walking with your dog to a recreation ground, taking your dog on a bus or car journey where it gets to sit right next to you while you drive and so on. The general idea behind this process is that you dedicate time to engaging in activities with your dog.
Visiting the swimming pool with your dog is indeed a fantastic idea. Dogs become excited and energetic at the sight of water. Most dog trainers recommend this, and unarguably, this is one of the best ways to bond with your dog.
Strolling is also a fantastic idea as dogs love to take a stroll. You can stroll to the supermarket or to your mechanic. Ultimately, walking with your dog presents a tremendous opportunity for bonding.
Dancing Dogs
Puppies always enjoy dancing. Surprisingly, most dog owners may not realize that dogs love to dance.
When it comes to what your dog ingests, it is advisable that you take it very seriously and follow a regime. Do not make the mistake of giving your dog what humans eat unless you want to drive your dog trainer crazy. While it will ingest the food without the campaign, you can be sure that this is not ideal for the dog's health. There a wholesome dog meals that are designed to gratify their taste buds and fortify their body for a healthy and vibrant life.
The dietary needs of a dog change from time to time. It is imperative that you are well aware of this fact and that you adjust accordingly to the recommendations of your dog trainer. Having a puppy, for instance, would mean that you give certain kinds of food that will cater to its developmental needs at the time.

Join forums and interact with other puppy owners to learn facts on how to train your pup and cater to its needs.

Sniffing is OK
Many dog owners tend to prevent their dogs from sniffling about. While this sniffling sound may seem a little unpleasant, you should not stop your pops from engaging in this activity. It would interest you to know that sniffing is particularly important to puppies as it helps them understand their environment better.

While most dog trainers are very conversant with the relevance of this process, it is imperative that it is reiterated. Taking your dog is absolutely imperative! This allows your dog to be found in the event that it goes missing.
Giving too much food to your dog comes with many unsavory consequences. From distended stomachs to abdominal pain and rapid shallow breathing, too much food is said to have as many negative effects as in the case of underfeeding.
Water is a necessity for dog's health. It comes highly recommended that you make water available to your pup all the time. Also, remember to ensure that the water is sanitary.
There are soaps and other lotions that are particularly designed for dogs. Make sure that your dog gets a nice wash when it needs it.
Just as humans require regular workouts, dogs need workouts too to remain vibrant and healthy. You should get your dog running and active every morning.
Some dog owners are completely oblivious to this fact but you should cater to your dog's teeth as well. In line with a healthy and during teeth, puppy chews are equally imperative. These toys allow dogs to exercise their teeth.
Dogs like to play and they could unknowingly hurt humans in the process when their claws are dangerously extended. Claw trimming is a practice should inculcate that you want to get scratches on your skin after playing with your pop. More so, when pops have extended claws, they become more likely to hurt themselves.
Dogs are prone to ear contamination and maladies. It is important that you investigate effective ways to protect your dog's ear, mainly when bathing your dog.
As you can see, socializing with your dog encompasses a lot more than just, "getting out." And the benefits of your dog training efforts will pay off far into the future.

Service Dogs For Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

swflk9trainer@gmail.com (Allison Christian) — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 18:09:08 GMT

It takes special training and the right set of skills to properly train service dogs for people that have PTSD.

What is PTSD?
PTSD – or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – is a kind of anxiety disorder that affects people that go through traumatic events. Traumatic events are ones where you feel that your own life – or that of others – is in danger. It can make you feel afraid and like you are unable to control what happens.

Anyone that goes through this kind of life-threatening event may develop PTSD. Traumatic events may include:

• Exposure to combat or the military
• Sexual or physical abuse as a child
• Terrorist attacks
• Physical or sexual assault
• Serious accidents including car wrecks
• Natural disasters such as tornados, fires, hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods
People can feel scared, angry, and confused after going through an event like this. If the feelings persist and get worse then it could be a sign of PTSD. PTSD symptoms can affect your quality of life and make it hard for you to live a regular life.

PTSD Service Dog Training
It takes specialized knowledge and a certain set of skills to train a service dog for people that suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder; both in trainers and dogs. The service dog has to be perceptive, have a compliant and courteous temperament, and be intuitive to be able to independently perform their duties when their owner is having a crisis.

PTSD Dogs receive training to:
• Assist in medical crises
• Provide assistance in treatment
• Help to deal with emotional overloads
• Perform tasks related to enhancing security
• Alleviate the anxiety and distress of their owner and ground them emotionally through leaning, pawing, and nudging
• Help wake people from nightmares and night terrors
• Distract people from an event or a specific behavior by pawing, nudging, and licking them
• Bring medication to people upon command or when triggered by an alarm
• Stand in front of their owner to create personal space in a crowded area in a non-aggressive fashion
• Safely lead individuals to exits when having an anxiety/panic attack
• Alert other people or activate an emergency system to get help
PTSD dogs are specially trained to provide security, physical exercise, and calming effects that can positively affect the lives of people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. As is the case with any kind of assistance dog, psychiatric service dogs are individually trained to mitigate the disability of their handlers. This training includes things such as assessing the environment (in the event of hallucinations and paranoia), signalling behaviors (including preventing repetitive or harmful behavior), reminding their handlers to take medication, retrieving objects and guiding handlers through – and away from – stressful situations.

These PTSD Service dogs change the lives of veterans and other people dealing with PTSD. They can help them to stay calm and prevent others from crowding around them or rushing behind them in public. This creates a comfortable and safe space for the person suffering from PTSD.

A PTSD Service Dog is able to:
• Help reduce blood pressure
• Help manage serotonin levels
• Help with depressive episodes
• Provide companionship
• Calm handlers
• Prevent people from crowding their handler and stressing them out
These tasks show just what a PTSD service dog can do. Each service dog has been trained specifically to the personal needs of their handlers based on their medical condition and they may or may not have the skills to perform one or more of the specifics tasks listed above.

What is an Emotional Support Dog?

Wed, 31 Jan 2018 13:00:08 GMT

While every dog is able to emotionally connect with their owner, an emotional support dog must legally be prescribed to a person with a mental illness by a licensed mental health professional.

While every dog is able to emotionally connect with their owner, an emotional support dog must legally be prescribed to a person with a mental illness by a licensed mental health professional. Therapists, psychiatrists, and psychologists must determine if the presence of the support dog would help the mental health of their patients. Having an emotional support dog may give someone new purpose and help ease their anxiety for example.

Service Dogs vs Emotional Support Dogs
While an emotional support animal (ESA) is able to offer support through companionship and they can reduce depression, anxiety, and some phobias, they are not considered to be service dogs and are not protected by the same rights as service dogs. Service dogs like guide dogs are generally allowed anywhere in public, but an ESA isn’t. This means that they wouldn’t be legally allowed into a mall or restaurant.

The Americans with Disabilities Act – also known as the ADA - defines service animals as a dog trained to work with disabled people and perform tasks for them. The act outlines that animals who provide emotional comfort only are not qualified as service animals under the Act. Some local and state laws will have broader definitions, so make sure to check if your local government agency allows ESAs complete public access.

The main difference between a service dog and an emotional support animal is if the animal is trained to perform a job or task directly related to the disability of their owner; such as guiding the visually impaired and letting the hearing-impaired know if an alarm is going off like a fire alarm. These are the jobs of service dogs. While being able to cuddle on cue is a comfort, it isn’t something that qualifies a dog as a service dog. It needs to be something that the dog has been trained to do, rather than something they would have done on instinct.

An Emotional Support Dog is Not a Psychiatric Service Dog
There are a kind of service dog known as a psychiatric service dog. These animals do work with people that have disabilities related to – or caused by – mental illnesses. They are able to detect when a psychiatric episode is starting and are able to help deal with the side effects. While it sounds like something an ESA does, the difference remains the same; a psychiatric service dog performs tasks that an emotional support animal doesn’t.

A psychiatric service dog – which is also covered by the ADA – has been trained to perform tasks that make it easier for one to live with mental illnesses. They may help remind their owners that they need to take their medication, and they can help keep disoriented people in dissociative episodes from walking into traffic. They may also check a room for people with PTSD to reassure them nothing is wrong. If the presence of the dog is all it takes for someone to cope, then the dog isn’t a psychiatric service dog.

The Legal Rights of An Emotional Support Animal
While an ESA doesn’t have the same legal protection as a service dog, they do have rights when it comes to air travel and housing. The Fair Housing Act defines an ESA as an assistance animal. The act protects disabled people from being discriminated against when finding housing. This means that people who have an emotional support animal to them are not subject to rules against pets, certain species, and limitations on pet sizes. They can also not be charged a pet deposit for having their emotional support animal stay with them.

An Emotional Support Animal provides crucial support to people living with disabilities.

How to Crate Train your Puppy

Fri, 26 Jan 2018 13:34:38 GMT

It can take time and effort to properly crate train a dog, but there’s no doubt it’s useful to have a crate-trained dog.

It can take time and effort to properly crate train a dog, but there’s no doubt it’s useful to have a crate-trained dog. A crate can be used to limit, how much access a new puppy or dog has to a house until they learn house rules such as what they can play with and where they have to use the bathroom.

Crates also provide a way to safely transport a dog in the car and offer an easy way to take them somewhere they might not be allowed to run free. If your dog is trained to use a crate properly, then they will think of it as a safe space that they can stay in when necessary.

Choosing a Crate
Crates may be plastic – known as a light kennel – or they may be a metal pen. They are available in a range of sizes and can be found at just about any pet store. The crate should have enough room for the dog to able to stand and turn around.

Crate Training
It can take between days and weeks for a dog to be crate trained depending on their age, temperament, and experiences. There are two things that must be considered when crate training; ensure the crate is associated with something good, and take the training process slow; avoid rushing through it.

• Step One: Making Introductions
The crate should be placed in a part of the house where the family usually gathers like the family room. Put a blanket or towel down in the crate. Bring the dog to the crate and speak to them using a positive tone of voice. Keep the door fastened open so that it doesn’t hit the dog and scare them.

Tempt your dog into the crate using food treats. Leave them by the crate, then just inside it, and then once again at the back of the crate. If the dog doesn’t want to enter the crate at first then leave them be and avoid forcing them. Keep putting treats in the crate until they are willing to walk into the crate for them. If they show no interest in the treats then try using one of their toys instead. Getting the dog to initially enter the crate may take just a few minutes or it could take several days.

• Step Two: Feeding the Dog in Their Crate
After your dog becomes comfortable entering their cage, it’s time to feed them by it. This makes them connect the crate with something pleasant. If the dog readily enters the crate by themselves before starting this step, then you can go ahead and put their food dish at the back of the crate. If they still have trouble entering the crate then put the dish as far as the dog is willing to go without getting anxious. Put the food a little further back every time and slowly move them to the back.

After your dog stands comfortably and eats their meals inside the crate you can close it while they eat. Start by opening the door again when they finish eating, and then keep it closed a little bit longer on each subsequent meal. If they start to whine they you may have pushed them too far and should reduce how long they stay in the crate the next time. It’s important you let your dog out of the crate only after they stop whining or they’ll learn that they can get out of the crate by whining.

• Step Three: Conditioning the dog to Stay in the Crate for Longer
Once your dog is comfortable eating meals in their crate you can start putting them in it while you’re at home. Call the dog to their crate and offer them a treat. Issue a command for them to enter the crate like “kennel up”. Give the dog some encouragement by pointing into the crate while holding a treat. Praise them and give them the treat when they get into the crate before closing the crate door.

Sit by their crate for around ten minutes before leaving the room for several minutes. Then come back and sit with the dog quietly again before letting the dog out of the crate. Do this a few times each day, leaving the dog in the crate and staying out of the room for longer periods of time. After they are comfortable in the crate for half an hour without being able to see you they are ready to be left in the crate while you go out and they can sleep in there. This step can take between a few days and a few weeks.

• Step Four Part A: Crating Your Dog and Leaving them Alone
Once the dog becomes comfortable sitting in the crate for about 30 minutes without you around them you can start leaving them there when leaving the house for a short period of time. Put them in the crate with the regular command and treat. Consider leaving them a few toys in the crate to help them feel safer as well.

Try to switch up when the dog is put in the crate when getting ready to go out. While they shouldn’t be left in the crate for too long before leaving the house, they can be put in there for between 5 and 20 minutes of you leaving the house. Don’t be emotional about the departure and prolong it. Keep things simple and act matter-of-factly. Give your dog some quick praise and a treat for going into the crate before leaving.//

Don’t reward the dog for being excitable when you get home by being excitable and enthusiastic yourself. Keep it all low key. Keep the dog in the crate for a short amount of time after coming home so that they don’t associate being put in the crate with you leaving them alone. A dog shouldn’t be left in the crate for more than five hours during the day.

• Step Four Part B: Crating Dogs at Night
Use the regular command and a treat to get the dog into the crate. It might be good to keep the crate in your bedroom or in the hallway at first, especially with a puppy. Puppies will often need to leave during the night to use the bathroom, and you will want to be able to hear when they need to go outside. Older dogs should be kept nearby at first as well to prevent crating from being a form of social isolation for them. After they are comfortable sleeping through the night with their crate near them, you can start to move it where you want it to be.

The Four Cornerstones of Positive Dog Training

Wed, 17 Jan 2018 14:28:24 GMT

The idea of positive training is not a scientific one. It’s not something that you could find in a scientific journal, and you’ll have people who don’t understand it continually mischaracterize it.

When the team at Positively talk about positive training or when you listen to Victoria say that she is a positive trainer, we incorporate several different philosophies, techniques, and awareness levels on misunderstood topics that come together to create positive training.

The Four Cornerstones of Positive Training
• Using positive reinforcement
• Avoiding intimidation, fear, or physical punishment
• Understanding misunderstood concepts of dominance
• Committing to understanding the experience of a dog from their point of view
These are the four elements that come together to create Positivity and positive training. If any of them were missing, then we would be left with an incomplete and ineffective philosophy that fails to establish a long-term relationship with your pet based on your mutual trust and respect. Let’s take a look at the 4 Cornerstones of Positive Training.

Cornerstone One: Positive Reinforcement
Using positive reinforcement methods during dog training is universally endorsed by behavioral scientists and recognized as one of the most human, effective, safest, and long-lasting forms of dog training.

To put it simply, positive reinforcement is when you reward positive behavior. The idea is that rewarding good behavior makes it more likely that it will be done again. When coupled used alongside negative punishments such as taking away something that the dog desires like food, toys, attention, and human contact, or using vocal interrupts to redirect potential negative behavior onto desired behaviors and guide dogs to make a good choice, the methods form the foundation upon which positive training is built. Traditional dog trainers may claim positive reinforcement techniques show weakness and lack leadership, but the reality is successful and respected leaders are those that don’t need to use force to bring about change.

Cornerstone Two: Avoid Punitive Methods
Studies show that using confrontational and punitive training methods on dogs doesn’t work in the long term. They have been show to make dogs more aggressive, especially if they are already aggressive. The concept is simple enough to understand, but dog owners sometimes forget that one should never use fire to fight fire.

Most people wouldn’t need a scientific journal to tell us what we’re being told by our instincts though: that it’s much better – and more humane – to reward rather than punish. Those who promote the idea of using old-school training methods argue their punishments – using electric shocks and kicking the dog in the ribs – aren’t very damaging. These punishments are indeed varied, with everyone deciding how far they will go. Everyone that is well-adjusted though understands that it’s better to avoid causing a dog to feel pain and fear as much as possible, no matter how minimal the punishment might be.

Cornerstone Three: Understanding Dominance
One of the toughest problems keeping us from developing a healthy and functional relationship with dogs is a misunderstanding of dominance and how it works to dogs. Anyone that has heard trainers talk of owners being the alpha dog or a leader of the pack in order to keep the balance and have the right chemistry with their dog has seen for themselves how far and wide the misguided conception of dominance has become in modern culture.

It is true that or historical understanding of dominance has changed over the past half-century or so and it remains complex. On the simplest level though, the best way to describe dominance as far as dogs are concerned is that you shouldn’t worry about it as much as we feel you may be right now. Dogs aren’t about to take over the world if they aren’t kept in check, and they rarely take on the commonly assumed hierarchy roles that people assign them.

What’s important to understand when it comes to owning a dog is that their behavior problems are rarely related to them trying to assert their own dominance over you. They don’t misbehave to prove that they are above you.

Read through Victoria’s latest book – Train Your Dog Positively – to learn about how dominance really works and moving past the misunderstandings. One of the most important ways to fully understand positive training is understanding dominance in the canine world. Believing that the reason a dog is misbehaving is a dominant issue only leads to an unconfident, unhappy, and unbalanced dog – and not to mention owner.

Cornerstone Four: Using the Point of View of the Dog
It’s impossible to create a real bond with your dog unless you understand how they see the world around them. The way to do this is to understand their language and appreciate their sensory experiences.

The senses are linked to emotions, and emotions are the driving force behind behavior, so it becomes clear that even if we’re only just understanding how dogs senses work, they are an important part of their experiences and we should understand them. Understanding how to use senses to work with dogs and understand their behavioral problems is known as sensory education.

Given that we are more advanced than our four-legged friends, it falls on us to learn how to speak their language rather than expecting them to learn ours. Doing this lays the foundation for a strong relationship between human and dog that makes it simpler to find a solution to any behavior issues your dog has.

Humans have been domesticating dogs for thousands of years now, so it is the responsibility of humans to ensure they are confident and have all the tools needed to survive – and thrive – in the complex and strange world of humans.

Conclusion
There are a number of terms thrown out there to describe techniques used in positive training: positive reinforcement, force-free, reward-based, and more. What everyone who believes in these philosophies share is their belief that these ideas are safer, effective, and more humane ways to train animals using the basic overarching concept of rewarding a positive behavior means it is more likely to be repeated.

Similarly ignoring and redirecting behaviors that you don’t like makes it likely that these behaviors won’t be repeated. Combining the two concepts with the understanding that dogs aren’t wolves that want to dominate us and be the “top dog” eliminates the need to control dogs through dominance and punishments, which is the recipe behind positive dog training.

Understanding Dog Aggression makes a huge difference in preventing Dog Bites.

Wed, 10 Jan 2018 12:42:09 GMT

Demystifying this serious and scary issue.

Dog aggression is a serious and scary issue. Dogs are striking back after years of built-up
anxiety, stress, unwanted hugs and kisses, children’s fingers in their faces, improper nutrition
and exercise or lack of exercise. Dogs are not bad, they want to love their humans, but they
can and are getting very stressed out in our society. When a dog bites out of fear or intense
frustration, a pleasing chemical reaction takes place in its brain. Biting releases dopamine,
the same neurotransmitter implicated with heroin abuse. This calms the emotions of the dog
and has a fast effect on the trigger (whatever is causing the reaction, person or
another dog).

However, dogs do not bite for no reason, and it’s easy to prevent when you learn the
different types of aggression and how to recognize when a dog is feeling guarded. Dogs are
warning and warning that they are uncomfortable. They are licking their lips, yawning,
walking away from you or more importantly the kids (80%of dog bites are children), stiff
body language, ears pinned, low deep growl and snap. If a dog snaps at you, your first
thought maybe that he attempted at a bite, but missed, no way. A dog is extremely accurate, and that snap was the screaming fire engine horn, flashing lights to what will come next, get
the drift?
Here are seven levels of dog bites:
1.Growl
2.Showing of teeth, snap
3.Contact, no wound
4.Puncture wound, not serious
5. Multiple bites, serious
6.Hospitalization
7.Death
Dogs usually start exhibiting aggression as they reach sexual and social maturity, between 8
Months to 3 years of age. A puppy is a lot like a toddler (studies show that too) in that they
are inhibited around adults. While those doting few months are good for bonding, most
puppies lose their passivity along with their puppy teeth, and this is when more assertive
behaviors begin to develop.
If these behaviors are not curbed or redirected, assertiveness will lead to aggression.
Fortunately, only a small percentage of fearful, defensive or reactive dogs become
dangerous. Usually, out-of-control aggression can be traced to genetic or physiological
sources, inadequate nurturing, lack of socialization or confrontational handling.
DOMINANCE “The Control Freak” This dog will often pick on a child, the entire family
needs to be involved in the training process.
TERRITORIAL AGGRESSION “The Guard Dog” This dog is always on high alert at the gate,
front door, when the pizza delivery driver arrives. Socialization is imperative in the training
process and restricted freedom when visitors enter the home.
POSSESSIVE AGGRESSION “Its Mine!” Resource guarders that go beyond. Taking away
resources and gradually giving them back is important in this training process. Proper
puppy training can often eliminate this.
FEAR AGGRESSION “Scaredy Cat” Lack of socialization towards people and other dogs as
a puppy. Positive reward-based training with curb this dog.
PREDATORY AGGRESSION “Prey Driver” This dog is constantly hunting, children,
bicycles, cars, joggers, etc. Conditioning in a training program and much exercise and fun
games will reduce aggression and improve behavior.
The best training for any dog is to start them early, as early as eight weeks or when they have all
of their shots. If you cannot afford a professional trainer, there are many self-help books
and videos available. Aggression cases are never fun, are very expensive and usually its too
late to do anything about the dog once a trainer gets involved. Please do not ignore the
vaguest warning signs; your Fido is trying to tell you something.

Positive Dog Training Basics

Mon, 27 Nov 2017 16:29:28 GMT

Motivation, Communication, and Timing will take your dog training into positive effectiveness.

Do you remember the great feeling when your parents would reward you when your report card was filled with A’s? It motivated you to keep succeeding, didn’t it? This is known as positive reinforcement. Of course, dogs aren’t interested in money. What they want is to be praised and fed. Positive reinforcement training combines praising and treats to reward dogs for behaving in a manner that you want. As the reward motivates them to do what they did to get the reward again, positive reinforcement becomes a powerful tool for shaping and changing the way your dog acts and behaves.

It sounds simple to reward your dog when they behave, and it really is that simple. There are still a few guidelines you can follow to be effective when rewarding your dog.

Timing is Key
Timing is everything when it comes to positive reinforcement:
• You must reward the dog within a matter of seconds to make them associate the treat with the behavior. If you get your dog to sit but wait until after they stand back up to reward them then they may mistakenly believe that it was standing up that earned the reward.
• One way to improve timing is to use a clicker. This also helps the dog understand that the treat is connected to the proper behavior.

Keep it Short
A dog isn’t able to understand a complete sentence. Telling them that you want to do something will just confuse them. Keep the commands short and simple. The best commands are only one word long, including:
• Sit
• Stay
• Watch
• Down – the command for “lie down”
• Off – the command to tell a dog to get off of you or the furniture
• Come
• Stand
• Heel – the command to follow you
• Leave it

Be Consistent
Everyone should be using the same commands with your dog; otherwise you may confuse them. It’s a good idea to put up a list of commands in a place that everyone can see them and learn them. Being consistent also means consistently rewarding dogs for their good behavior and never rewarding them for bad behavior.

The Best Time for Positive Reinforcement
The good of positive reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is an excellent way to teach dogs commands and reinforcing positive behavior. The right time to get your dog to sit, for example, is:
• Before opening the door to prevent them from darting out
• Before petting them to prevent them from jumping all over people
• Before feeding them to reinforce good mealtime manners
Also consider patting your dog and praising them for lying by your feet, or slipping a treat into one of their toys when they chew on that rather than your shoe.

The bad of positive reinforcement
Be careful to avoid inadvertently rewarding bad behavior through positive reinforcement. An example of this is letting the dog outside when they bark at something happening outside. Giving them access to the yard counts as a reward to them, meaning you’re rewarding them for doing something that you’re hoping to discourage.

Shaping Dog Behavior
Learning how to behave properly can take time. It can take a technique known as “shaping,” which is when you reinforce something that is close to the desired outcome and gradually require the dog to do a little more before giving them their treat.

If you were teaching your dog to shake for example, then you might begin by rewarding them for taking their paw off the ground, and then for lifting the paw higher. Then you can reward them for touching your hand, letting you hold their paw, and then when they “shake hands.” Take the time to shape more complicated behaviors and be patient with your pet.

Reward Types
The rewards in positive reinforcement can be treats, petting, praise, or one of their favorite toys or games. Given that dogs are mostly motivated by food, treats are an effective way to train them.
• Treats need to something they find irresistible. Do some experimentation until you find the best treat for training your pet
• The treat should be a small piece of soft food that they can eat in an instant and expect more of. Don’t give dogs treats that breaks apart or that they have to chew on.
• Have a range of treats ready to go so that the dog doesn’t get bored of getting the same treats. Carry treats around using a fanny pack or in your pocket.
• You should always couple any food reward with a verbal reward and praise the dog. Use a positive and happy tone of voice to call them a good dog and then give them the treat.
If you have one of the few dogs that isn’t motivated by food, then you can reward them with petting, a toy, or letting them play.

When you Should Give Treats
If you are teaching your dog a new behavior, then you should reward them each time they do it. This technique is known as continuous reinforcement.

After the dog reliably learns the new behavior, it’s time to move to intermittent reinforcement, which is when you still praise your dog but reduce how often they get a treat for behaving in the desired manner.

• Reward them four out of five times at first. Then reduce it to three out of five, two out of five, and keep reducing it until you reward them only on occasion.
• Continue praising the dog each time they behave, but you can be less effusive in your praise as time goes on. Give them a quiet but still positive “good dog” for example.
• You need to be varied in your reinforcement so that the dog doesn’t realize they only have to respond every so often to get what they want. Dogs will come to learn that they will eventually get the treat or praise they want if they continue to respond.
Take note that you shouldn’t be too hasty with decreasing rewards. This can frustrate your dog and you don’t want that.

When you understand positive reinforcement, you understand that you don’t need to have a pocket full of treats at all time. Your dog soon starts working for verbal praise because they want to please you. Plus they know that they’ll get the occasional treat.

The Secrets of Clicker Dog Obedience Training

Thu, 16 Nov 2017 12:53:56 GMT

The core of positive dog training is about making sure your dog is obedient by means of clear communication and expectations.

At the end of the day, dog training is about making sure your dog is obedient. This includes teaching them basic commands such as sit, heel, stay, come, and more. The two basic ways to approach dog training are negative reinforcement and positive reinforcement. Negative reinforcement involves using techniques such as electric shocks and choke collars, while positive reinforcement uses rewards and clickers. Which would you say is the most effective? The answer is positive reinforcement, and this is why…

Training your dog using negative reinforcement makes them afraid. They become afraid of those around them, particularly you. It causes them to act aggressively in unpredictable ways. You end up with a dog that never stops barking and damages your property.

While it is true that negative reinforcement may work at first, the results are unpredictable at best. You want to have dog training behaviors that you can predict and repeat.

Training dogs through positive reinforcement creates a bond with the dog that lasts for a lifetime. A simple clicker is the most efficient way of doing this.

Dog Obedience Training with a clicker uses the clicker tool. This tool lets the dog know that they have done something positive instantly. It produces a sound that tells them they’ve done something correctly.

Combining the sound of a clicker with positive reinforcement such as treats and praise is an effective method for training your dog to behave in a certain way, such as sitting, staying, fetching, speaking, rolling over, playing dead, laying down, attacking, and any other trick or behavior you could want them to do. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of clicker training your dog.

Schedule the Training Sessions
Making the training session part of everyday life makes it easier for the dog to understand what’s coming. They start to anticipate training sessions. Scheduling a training session to happen before meal time motivates them to learn what you are trying to teach them as well.

Less is More with Obedience Training
The only time your dog has an unlimited attention span is when it is chasing something like a ball or a cat. Even then, they can lose their focus on a fun activity. Training sessions should be limited to around five minutes to keep your dog engaged and focused. If you make the sessions last too long, then your dog may become disinterested in training completely.

Avoid Punishing Dogs When They Make Mistakes
As contrarian as it sounds, punishing your dog through yelling, hitting them, and putting them in a crate for timeout tends to do more damage. It stresses out your dog, making them fearful and destructive. Instead you should stamp out bad behavior by rewarding their good behavior. They may need some time to get the message, but giving them rewards is worth it, and it makes the training stick. There’s no need for constant retraining.

Practice With the Clicker Before Using it for Dog Training
The clicker is easy enough to understand; it makes clicking sounds when you pinch it. However, using it can be somewhat difficult. You must only use it when your dog has behaved properly for it to be effective.

Clicking after the dog does something good means they may not connect the dots. It’s better to use the clicker while they are doing what you want them to do. Practice with the clicker to use it accurately.

Plan Obedience Training
Before training behavior, you need to think about just what you want the dog to do. Consider these questions when teaching your dog to sit, for example:
• What will be the cue for the command? Are you going to give them verbal cues, physical cues, or use both?
• How long should they be sat for?
• Would you like the dog to sit where they are when you say the command or come to you and sit down?
Considering these points is important because you have to click and reward towards the ideal behavior you want. If you would prefer your dog sits on command until released, then it takes two commands. The first is teaching them the concept of sitting. Click and reward them each time they sit. Then you can progress to adding a cue – the release command – and then keep on going until you get your desired outcome.

There are several reasons training your dog is so important. For a start it ensures your dog stays safe. It also ensures they don’t do anything unwanted such as tugging on their leash, begging for your food, and jumping up on people. It also prevents destructive behavior and gives your dog some structure and expectations. This makes them feel more secure and at ease.

Training your dog gives you plenty of quality time with your dog and reinforces a positive relationship between you and your dog. It doesn’t matter if your dog is young or old, big or small, calm or hyper, dog obedience training brings you and your dog closer to lifelong happiness.

5 Dog Obedience Lessons that you need to know. They make a huge difference!

Mon, 06 Nov 2017 13:57:58 GMT

There is a difference between having a trained dog and balanced dog...

You can teach your pet some instructions that will help it overcome some challenges that are present or the problems that may occur later.
SIT
It is the most straightforward dog obedience instruction to train your pet and one of the best tips to begin the process of training. Ensure you hold a delicacy in your hands close to the nose of your dog. Raise your hand in an upward trend and enable the head of your dog to follow the treat which will cause the lower part of its body to sit.
As soon as the dog is sitting down, say this word, “SIT” and hand the treat to the pet and show some love.
Make sure you try this method often each day.
COME
This obedience instruction can teach your dog how to stay out of trouble; it also ensures your pet come back to you when it is left off the leash, or the front door is left open. Place a rope and a collar on the neck of your dog. Bend down and whisper the word “Come” while placing the leash on its neck gently. Once the dog comes to you, give it a treat and affection. If you notice that the pet has understood the leash technique, take the leash off and repeat the process in a fenced environment considered safe.
DOWN
This technique is one of the complicated methods in dog obedience training as the position is a posture that requires submission. If your pet is the anxious type, you may need to ensure the training process make your dog feel comfortable and relaxed.
Hold a sweet smelling delicacy in your fist closed; take the closed fist closer to the nose of your pet. As soon as your pet perceives that smell, bring your hand down, and it will follow the trend of your hand. Move your hand along the ground to enable its body to align with its head movement.
When the dog is in the down position, whisper the word “Down,” offer him that delicacy and show affection.
STAY
You need to be sure that your pet has mastered the “SIT” command before you begin the process of the “STAY” position.
You start this procedure by telling your pet to sit down. Open your hands and say “Stay.” Move backward and offer your pet a treat with love if he stays in that position.
Increase the number of steps in the next phase before offering your dog another treat. Ensure you provide your puppy with a delicious treat each time it stays put even if it did not stay there for a minute.
This training will teach your pet self-control and a process that requires patience and time.
LEAVE IT
This training will ensure the safety of your pet when it gets curious. The essence of the technique is to train your dog that he gets rewarded for leaving the other stuff.
Take a delicious treat in your hands.
Show the dog a closed fist with a treat inside and whisper “Leave it.”
Your pet will try every method to get the treat by barking, licking, and sniffing, pawing and other stuff. As soon as your dog gives up, offer the treat from your other hand. Keeping trying this technique until your pet moves away from the first enclosed fist where you mentioned the word “Leave it.”
Give your pet the delicious treat as soon as he leaves the first fist and looks at you. If you notice your dog leaves the first treat and maintain eye contact each time you give out the instruction, you are getting there. You can make use of two different treats with one tasting good and the other having a nice savor and mouthwatering delicacy for your puppy.
Say the word “Leave it,” throw the treat that is less appetizing on the floor and cover with your hand. You can wait for your dog to snub that meal and have an eye contact with you. Give the sweeter treat to your pet and show love.
As soon as it gets the better treat, put the other treat that is not delicious on the floor but avoid covering it with your hands thoroughly. Just make sure you hold it a little bit above the meal. As time goes on, raise your hands higher till it is out of your pet’s reach.
Following these five guidelines will ensure the safety of your pet and enhance communication between both of you. It is an excellent investment of time and energy. Always remember that the dog obedience training period is a time-consuming session which requires patience.

Five Painful Puppy Training Mistakes

Fri, 20 Oct 2017 14:53:52 GMT

Save yourself a lot of pain and suffering and read this.

There’s nothing quite like introducing a puppy to the family. Dogs are excellent companions for adults and playmates for children. The only problem is that a puppy needs to be trained, and many people have trouble doing this. It’s not as difficult as you think though. Here are five very common puppy training mistakes you need to avoid making.

1. Picking your puppy based only on the “Adorable Factor”

If you inquire for reasons why people selected their brand new puppy, they will mention something about the way it looks. Having said that, dogs are not just adorable faces, they have personality traits and exercise requirements which usually combined with its particular breed, and an intelligent dog owner selects their puppy based on these factors, not necessarily looks.For example, a busy business owner that lives in a New, is only home a few hours, and does not like to go for taking walks or runs should not own a German Wirehaired Pointer, a breed of dog that needs to run a long way a day. Pick sensibly, and you will already be on the road to good results before you even bring your dog home. If this is your first puppy, check out the post on the Dog Breeds That Are Best For New Owners.

2. No Rules
More often than not, we bring our new dogs home, take them off the leash, and let them loose without considering what we want them to do – or not do. Then they do something that we feel is bad and we punish them as if it’s their fault they didn’t read our minds and know to not do it. Sometimes we’ll let our puppy get away with something for a while and then decide that it’s bad for them to do. This confuses the dog and makes them more likely to fail. Before you introduce a new puppy or dog to your home, get together with the rest of the household and decide on what the dog is and isn’t allowed to do. Make decisions about where the dog is going to sleep if it’s allowed on furniture, when it will be fed and walked, and who will do it. Setting rules and ensuring they are followed is the first key to success.

3. Inconsistency
You have to follow any rules that you set. That means everyone who comes into contact with the puppy on a regular basis – even if it’s your friends or the housekeeper – has to stick to the rules too. Dogs are smart, so it only takes one person letting them get away with something they shouldn’t (or worse; rewards them for it) to make them keep doing it, even if it bothers everyone else.

4. Lack of Socialising
There’s no guarantee that your dog is going to fall in love with every other dog they see. Many new dog owners feel their dogs are friendly by nature, and they don’t think too much about properly socializing their dog. Properly socializing your dog is one of the most important things you can do, particularly with puppies. Puppies come with a socialization window that often begins before you even receive them, and lasts until they are 12-16 weeks old. The more positive socialization experiences your puppy has during this time, whether with dogs or people, the friendlier they are going to be when they get older.

5. Not Considering the “Fear Factor”
New dog owners tend to say that their dogs are somewhat stubborn. They’ll say their dogs don’t walk with them outside, aren’t friendly with other dogs, and don’t respond to cues when out in public. In this case, a dog is likely not being stubborn – which is a human trait we put on dogs as it is – but rather they are anxious or afraid of the situation. One big mistake that can be very costly is not recognizing that your dog is fearful of their current situation and surroundings. When you push a dog to do something in a situation where they are afraid, they could bite you, someone else, or another dog. If your dog starts to show signs that they are afraid or anxious then back off. Don’t try to force them to do something they don’t want to do. I hope that is has been helpful. If you need any help along the way, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Would you like a your puppy to be a Star? Introducing "Puppy S.T.A.R Training"

Fri, 22 Sep 2017 13:07:16 GMT

Setting the tone early makes for having a Top adolescent and adult Dog.

I like to start all my puppies and my client's puppies with the AKC STAR puppy program. This program is amazing and creates a foundation that will help your puppy when he/she is an adolescent dog. This will make your life much less stressful when you arrive at intermediate obedience and when your adult dog begins advanced obedience training. The STAR program will give you the basic commands (stay, down, sitting, coming, heel, place) with less distractions, recalls from several feet away, how walk on a leash with little to no resistance, standing for grooming and toleration of touch (especially the paws and ears). It is also vital that the owner has the ability and take things away from the puppy with a fight. If you would like more information on the STAR puppy program, please get in touch with us today!

Learn More About S.T.A.R.

Managing Canine Megaesophagus ME

Wed, 16 Aug 2017 21:33:35 GMT

Managing Megaesophagus ME and your dog

I have heard briefly about canine ME before but until recently I have never met a dog that suffers from this condition, then Penelopy came into my life. "Penely" an 8 month old Boston Terrier is a new client of mine. The first time I met her and did my consultation with her and her mom, Kristina, she regurgitated in the driveway. Kristina began to explain to me her condition of ME. This is a condition in animals and even humans, where the esophagus is generally enlarged. It is more common in dogs than cats. The esophagus is enlarged and the food does not pass to the stomach as it normally would, it tends to stay in the esophagus and then is regurgitated (not vomit). It can also make its way to the dogs lungs through breathing (aspiration pneumonia) or even decay in the esophagus. Until very recently, Kristina had to hold Penely in an upright position for her to eat her meals. Kristina is a devoted parent and thru education of this disease, found a way Penely can enjoy her meals without being constantly held in her upright position and has to sit with her for ten minutes after her meal to avoid aspirating. Calorie intake also has to be monitored with dogs suffering from this condition. A way to avoid any mishaps with this condition is a "Bailey Chair". Penely now has her new chair, thanks to Kristina's crafty abilities, so she can enjoy her meals in the upright position. A Bailey Chair is designed to let gravity do the work that the esophagus should do. Donations for canine ME can be made on baileychair4dogs.com for those who cannot afford to purchase a Bailey Chair.

Potty Training: The Basics

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 00:42:33 GMT

This is the number one question that I get from my new puppy owners.

This is the number one question that I get from my new puppy owners. Why is my puppy still having accidents in my home? The answer is simple, you, the owner, is not being consistent. There are few instances that a puppy has puppy bladder excitement or maybe even a UTI, in that case, call your vet. So, I will go over a few steps that will housebreak your puppy ten days or less.

1. In the early morning take puppy out for a potty, bring treats, it is necessary to capture this natural behavior and positively reinforce it. The puppy will need to use the potty first thing in the morning and capturing this behavior, rewarding it verbally and with treats will encourage the puppy to continue to use the potty outside.

2. NEVER spank your puppy if he has an accident in the house.

3. Restrict to a small area and always use that same area. The puppy will smell its scent and continue to use that small area.

4. Stay on a consistent feeding schedule and make a log of feedings and when the puppy uses the potty. Learn your puppies schedule.

5. Once puppy has eaten breakfast, wail 10-15 minutes and walk puppy outside and use the command “Go Potty” reward during (capturing) and immediately after he has gone outside. If he does not go, I always recommend crate training (that will be another blog entirely) Put puppy back in crate for 10-15 minutes and repeat step 1.

6. I also recommend feeding your puppy three times a day, so lunch is same steps as dinner and taking puppy out for walks In between feedings helps. Don’t forget the treats and verbal positive reinforcement.

7. Get in the mindset that using the potty outside is a “business trip”. There is no playing, no eating grass (shouldn’t do that anyways), playing fetch etc. until he is fully housebroken ad Your only objective is to get your puppy to potty outside.

8. If your puppy has an accident in the house, take him outside and tell him “potty” outside.

9. Do not get frustrated with this procedure, your hard work will soon pay off. Sometimes it will be necessary to set your alarm in the middle of the night to let your puppy “potty” outside.

10. CONSISTENCY IS KEY!!!

My “Top Dogs Ten Commandments”

Wed, 09 Aug 2017 20:54:57 GMT

During the training process, there are many commands to teach a dog, however, consistency is key.

During the training process, there are many commands to teach a dog. Consistency is key. I do not care if we use the word “applesauce”

for the sit command, as long as it is ALWAYS “applesauce”. Of course, I use the term sit, I am just making and example.

With that out of the way, lets go over my top ten commands; TEN COMMANDMENTS

1. Look-to make eye contact with the handler, the “name game” is a great game to play with your dog for this one

2. Sit-to properly sit on command

3. Down-to properly down on command

4, Wait-to wait such as at the doorway, not a permanent command, “I will be releasing you shortly”

5. Place-a comfortable place inside the home, to use instead of the crate, perhaps when guests are over or someone knocks on the door.

6. Leave it-to leave it alone, do not put it in your mouth

7. Take it-to take it, put it in your mouth

8. Drop it-to drop it out of your mouth

9. Recall-to come to me when called

10. Stay-stay means stay until you are released

These commands are the first commands I start all my clients and my own dogs on. Some trainers may flip flop some commands, but for the most part, these are pretty general. I also think that every trainer will agree with me that consistency is key when teaching commands. Until next blog, love your dog!