#like. hire a dog walker. go to obedience training. do SOMETHING

[rambling-at-midnight]

False Image: Part 2

At this point, you’re pretty sure the universe hates you.

You don’t know what you did to piss off fate, but it seems like everywhere you turn, there’s one of the Winchesters, or some appendage of them—Bobby, Jo, Gabe, and Cas don’t have the last name ‘Winchester’ but they’re all connected in some way.

At least none of your coworkers know Sam and Dean. From what you’ve seen of the boys’ fans, if someone does know them, they’d never stop talking about them. You’re surprised you haven’t fallen to what you’ve started to call the Winchester virus—yet.

You’ve never seen such a close-knit group of people and it’s really sweet, how much they seem to care for each other, but they’re always talking about Sam and Dean. Sam and Dean this, Sam and Dean that, Sam and Dean saved kittens from a house fire yesterday, this morning they saved one of their colleague’s lives.

Not that they aren’t great, because they are. And you’re glad they’re saving kittens’ lives, because you love kittens, and you’re glad nobody’s dying in local fires, but you’ve got a problem.

You blush.

A lot.

At a lot of things, like having to speak in front of small and large groups of people, you saying something dumb to someone you don’t really know, someone asking you a question you don’t know the answer to, someone teasing you, someone questioning you in general, lying, and so much more.

Basically, if no one looked at you, everything would be peachy.

And for some reason you don’t really want to know, the mere mention of Sam freakin’ Winchester makes you red-hot like the firetrucks he rides in.

Oh, and did you forget to mention, you blushing so much makes you embarrassed, but the more embarrassed you are, the more you blush?

So, it’s either you start wearing an unholy amount of makeup to stop from looking like a tomato every time someone mentions Sam’s name—and jeez, are the boys, like, local celebrities or something? Everyone knows them—or you, like, get over this weird crush thing. You’ve not spent an hour in his presence, so how could you be so flustered over even his name ?

At least he’s not one of your patients. You’d probably catch fire if he came around and you had to sit in a closed-off room with him for a half hour.

Good thing he’s a firefighter, you think and chuckle aloud.

“What?” Your secretary and first friend in this town, Charlie Bradbury, asks without taking her eyes off her computer screen. You don’t know what she’s looking at; it’s all a bunch of black and white gibberish on the display.

“Sorry.” You shake your head and stow your phone in your coat pocket. “Just… thinking of a funny scene from a TV show I watched last night.” You can feel the heat rising up your cheeks and pray she isn’t looking at you. Charlie rarely takes her eyes off her computer screen, especially because she works another job while being your secretary. It’s not a lot of work, so she also works for the government in hacking into people’s electronic stuff. You’re not very good at all that stuff. Thank God she is.

“Hey, remind me who’s coming today?”

Charlie rapidly clicks the mouse, minimizing the gibberish screen and pulling up multiple files before finding the right one. She recites, “Brutus Crowley—” You smile at that. “Missy Walker, Dagger Chambers, Lola Banes, and Bailey Hanscum. Garth is taking care of all the other patients. Speaking of—” Charlie checks her watch. “He’s cutting it close again.”

“Cut him some slack, he’s an excited newlywed.” You sigh. “I think it’s sweet.”

Charlie pushes away from her computer and wheels over to you. “What’s that sigh for?”

“What sigh?” You look away and pick up your file for the day just to have something to do.

Charlie exaggerates a sigh and repeats, “‘I think it’s sweet.’ What’s that about?” She gasps. “Is there someone? A boy?” She wiggles her eyebrows at you.

“No!” You crinkle your nose as if disgusted, but really you’re trying not to smile at the mental image of Sam that pops up in your head.

“A girl! I like girls, too, I’m not judging.”

“Speaking of, you need to bring Kara around sometime! You guys are still together, right?”

“Yes, we are, you would know if we weren’t, and you’re changing the subject.” Charlie puts her hands together prayer-style and regards you with squinted eyes.

You start to get red and look away, pretending to shuffle through the case files. It’s just a checkup for Brutus, but Missy’s been refusing food. And Dagger—

“You like someone.” Charlie gasps. “You don’t like Dean, do you? You’ve been talking about him a lot. You know he’s with Cas, right?” She grimaces. As if you’d ever be a homewrecker like that.

You pull a face. “No! Ew! I don’t like Dean—wait, you know Dean? And I haven’t been talking about him, like, at all!”

Charlie laughs. “Hey, look, as your closest friend, whenever you mention a potential love interest, I notice. It’s taken you long enough to get over Brady. You were talking about the Winchesters, especially more recently, and well… even I can admit they are smoking . And the tone of voice you used when you were talking about them… Besides, who doesn’t know Dean? Everyone knows Dean and—” Charlie’s mouth drops open. “Sam! Oh my God, you like Sam !”

“You do?”

You and Charlie turn at the sound of Garth’s voice. He shuts the back door and hangs up his coat and briefcase without taking his eyes off you.

“Hey, Garth!” you say loudly, trying to convey that you’re going to kill Charlie with your eyes. “How’s the wife?”

“She’s great. You like Sam?” he asks again, like you hadn’t heard him ask the first time. “Wow! I love Sam! I bet you guys will be great together!”

“No, I really—I really don’t ,” you insist. “You probably don’t even know the Sam we’re talking about—”

“Well, Winchester, duh.” Garth smiles and chuckles. “Are there any other Sams in the town?”

“Um, yes, three others, and Charlie’s just being stupid and projecting her happy lovey-dovey feels onto me. I’m focused on my work now. I don’t have time for distractions.”

“Y/N, you’re getting red,” Garth points out in a sing-song voice and picks up a sheet of paper from Charlie’s desk. Of course, that only makes you redder. “Oh, hey! Mrs. MacLeod is visiting with Leo today! I love Leo. He’s my favorite snake.”

“I think he’s our only snake,” Charlie muses, finally distracted, and you breathe a sigh of relief and check your watch.

“Oh! We’re opening in one minute! Is everything set up?”

“Y/N, relax. Even if things aren’t ready, the only person scheduled exactly for 9 is Crowley, and he literally could not care less.”

“Speak of the devil,” you say while poking your head out of the employee’s room. Crowley stands in front of the glass doors with Brutus at his side. The enormous Neapolitan Mastiff sits at his feet, perfectly obedient as always.

You mouth ‘one moment’ to Crowley, who rolls his eyes (you blush) and duck back into the room. “He’s here. Where are the keys?”

Charlie tosses them to you. “Did you know, Asa always puts them on the coat rack when he’s finished with the night shift? It took me forever to find them the first time and we were fifteen minutes late to open…” She continues to speak to Garth, who listens intently while preparing himself some coffee, and you welcome Crowley and his dog in with a large, genuine smile. Crowley is definitely an acquired taste and so is Brutus, but they’re both sweethearts once you get to know them.

“How are you today, Crowley?”

“I’m perfectly well, Y/N,” he responds in his dry British accent. “How are you?”

“I’m all right,” you reply. “A little stressed because of the move, but I’m excited too. And how is Brutus doing?” You crouch down to the dog’s level and scratch his head. “Just the checkup, huh?”

“That is correct. You are satisfied with the help you received through my company, though, aren’t you?”

“Oh, Mr. Asmodeus was lovely,” you assure him. “Packing up is just a hassle. You never know how much you own until you have to box it all up, right?”

Crowley laughs, probably only out of courtesy, but that’s one of the reasons why you like him. He’s always perfectly polite and courteous. You would think he’s only being nice to you because he’s nice to everyone (and that doubt does still cross your mind at times) but he’s taken to calling you Bird, and Charlie tells you he only calls people animals when he’s especially fond of them.

“You know, I almost wish Brutus would get sick more often,” you remark off-handedly. “I hardly ever see him, do I, boy?” You pat his head and lead him by his collar to the scale. “Not that I’d like to see him sick, though,” you add hastily.

“No offense taken, Bird,” Crowley assures you. “I did hear something about a training center for dogs…”

“I guess word has gotten around,” you say while writing down Brutus’ weight. “I mean, it is a training center and Brutus is, obviously, an angel. The sentiment is kind, though.”

“Wouldn’t it help to have another dog along to set an example?” Crowley asks.

You frown and tap your pen against your chin. “That’s actually not a bad idea.”

“Perfect.” Crowley straightens his already-straight suit. “Then you’ll send me the schedule?”

“Y-yes.” Feeling yourself get redder, you change the topic. “Brutus has only gained a tenth of a pound since we’ve last seen him, so that aspect is fine.” You give the dog a treat, one of the many stowed in the pockets in your coat, and wink at Crowley. “Off to a private room, then.”

“Heel, boy,” Crowley commands and they follow after you.

“Now, I don’t suppose any of the answers from last year have changed?” you ask while listening to Brutus’ chest with your stethoscope.

Crowley settles himself into a chair with a regal dignity you didn’t think possible for a mere human. “Well, as the town grows, I become busier and busier, but I have hired a dog walker to take Brutus on his regular walks, and then I obviously exercise him in the park while I eat my lunch. Apart from that, nothing has changed.”

You mark that down on your clipboard. “Oh, I forgot to ask—did you bring in the feces we asked for?”

Crowley flourishes a Tupperware container full of Brutus’ poop that he’d pulled seemingly out of nowhere.

“Perfect, I’ll have Garth go over that immediately.” You stick your head out of the room and call, “Garth! We got poop !”

“That is a lot of poop,” Garth comments as he takes the container from you.

“Brutus is a big dog,” you reply. “Make sure you wash it out well, all right?”

Brutus seems perfectly healthy, so you send the two men off a few treats lighter and with Crowley’s number in your pocket. You have no idea where Crowley put the Tupperware container after you gave it back to him, but that’s just Crowley for you.

The rest of the day is a breeze. Gordon Walker was probably more worried than he needed to be, since his cat only has a small cold, but you sent them away with medication. Krissy Chambers’ bunny, Dagger, had a UTI.

You had a small break after that and got to hold Leo during his wellness examination and talk with Crowley’s mother, Rowena. You don’t know how she looks so young, considering her son is at least 45.

After that you got to meet Lola Banes, Alicia Banes’ new white rat. It was just a wellness examination for him as well, but he wasn’t exactly friendly. And Donna Hanscum’s energetic cocker spaniel, Bailey, has fleas.

At the end of the day, you sit slumped in the employee’s room, sipping out of a coffee. It’ll keep you up tonight, but at this point you’re too tired to make it back to your apartment. You need the caffeine.

“Long day, huh?” Charlie spins around in her chair once, a blur too fast for you to make eye contact with, before she gets back to typing.

You nod and heave a sigh. “I just need to get on a good sleeping schedule again, that’s all.”

“You’ll be back to yourself once the move is over.”

“God, I hope so.”

“Hey, you wanna head home now?” Charlie stands up from her computer and cracks her neck. “Garth and I can handle cleanup, or even Asa and whoever he works the ER with. You’ve earned a good night’s sleep.” Charlie takes the coffee cup out of your hands. “You won’t be able to sleep if you drink this.”

“I won’t be able to drive back if I don’t drink it,” you correct and grab for the coffee cup. All that happens is burning-hot coffee slops over the edge and you both snatch your hands away at the same time. The cup smashes on the floor and you hiss, shaking your hand.

“Fuck,” you both say at the same time, staring at the smashed cup on the ground.

“This is why we can’t have nice things, Charlie,” you immediately joke. “Hey, at least I’m a medical professional. I know how to bandage burns.”

“You know how to do everything,” Charlie grumbles as you wrap up her hand. “You should work the ER too, sometimes. Asa had to call Garth in because some cat was having troubles that he didn’t recognize. You’re the boss. The boss should be doing the hard work.”

“Yeah, Charlie, I’d sure love to work 24/7,” you say sarcastically. “I work the ER on Saturdays. Sundays are my off days.”

“I’ll clean up the mess,” she says, ignoring your sarcasm. “You go home.”

You start to walk away but stop in the doorway. “Hey, Charlie?”

“Yeah?”

“Can you—forget it.”

“No, what?”

“I’ll get back to you after I ask Garth about it,” you evade, turning red again. You don’t want Charlie to know anything about it. At least Garth is moderately subtle. Charlie would probably punch Gordon in the face, and he hasn’t even done anything.

Garth is just finishing up with someone’s dog when you knock on his door.

“Bye, Mrs. O’Connor!” he calls cheerily. “Have a nice day!”

“You too, Mr. Fitzgerald,” she responds.

“Hey, Y/N,” Garth greets, turning around to grab a Clorox wipe. “Buddy really sheds a lot. What’s up?”

“I was wondering if you could take Missy Walker from now on?” You hold your breath as your face turns red.

“Why?”

“I don’t really like her.”

“What?” Garth laughs. His back is still turned and you’re grateful. You’re blushing hard right now. “Missy’s super sweet and you love cats. What’s really up, Y/N?”

“Nothing!” Your shoulder slips off the doorframe and you stumble. “Nothing, really, Garth. I just—she only comes in once in a while and most of the time I’m really busy and Krissy and Lee had to wait a long time while I was with Missy.” You take Missy’s file out from behind your back and shove it at him. “If it’s not any trouble…”

Bemused, Garth takes the papers and skims over them. “If you really don’t want to, Y/N, then sure, but—”

“Perfect! I’ll tell Charlie. Thanks, Garth!” You call, already out the door and down the hall so he can’t change his mind.

Charlie’s just finished cleaning up the spill when you hurl yourself into the room. “Garth’s going to be taking care of Missy from now on, all right?”

“Huh?”

“Garth agreed to take on Missy Walker from now on because I’ve got so many other patients,” you say slower and avoid where she’s crouching as you walk across the floor to grab a few coffee K cups for your one at home.

“Any reason why?”

“I felt super rushed today,” you fib and hang up your coat in the closet. “Oh, can you hand me a ‘Clean’ sticker? I didn’t get peed on or anything today.”

Charlie hands you the sticker you’d asked for so Asa won’t put it in the wash unnecessarily. You stick it carefully onto the shoulder of your coat and shut the closet door.

“What time is it?” you wonder while checking your watch. It’s 5:34. You’re running a full hour ahead of schedule.

“Bye, Y/N,” Charlie calls after you as you shrug on your real coat and exit the clinic through the back door.

Since you’re turned back to yell “Bye!” you don’t notice the large form in the doorway and hit it full-speed.

“Sorry!” you squeak, taking a step back to look at the person’s face.

Asa grins at you. “Where’s the fire?”

“I drank some coffee,” you admit. “Just now.” You grin and bounce on the balls of your feet. “Good luck tonight, A!”

“See you, Y/N!” he calls after you as you hurry past him. Hopefully no dogs get hit by cars tonight. He’d love a nice, quiet night.

During work, you’d forgotten about your annoying crush and terrible luck, but the second you get into your car it all comes rushing back. You’re running a full hour early—will you see Sam when he’s coming home tonight?

You can’t help the rush of adrenaline that floods through you at the thought.

God, you really do like Sam, don’t you? That’s embarrassing. How do you make it stop?

You turn on your car and a blast of cold air slaps you in the face. It doesn’t warm up until you pull into the parking lot of the apartment building, and you roll your eyes. The car’s moderately old. You’ll have to get a new one, but not for a while.

You’d called it—Sam is in the elevator when the doors open, and you both step back with surprise.

“Sorry,” he immediately says. “Normally no one else is on the elevator at this time. You get off early?”

“Yeah,” you reply. Surprising yourself and Sam, you keep the conversation going by asking, “Were there any fires today?”

Sam shakes his head. “We cleaned up the trucks, mostly. Dean and Cas both got in trouble for making a mess in the vending machine room, but—” He stops talking and you look at him with surprise, but he’s looking down.

You’d reached for the elevator button with your bandaged hand. Sam’s eyes don’t lift from it as he asks, “What happened to your hand?” Is it just you, or does he sound… angry? Why would he be angry?

“I burnt it, actually,” you respond, torn between hiding the point of conversation so Sam will get back to talking about Cas and Dean and whatever they did because the more Sam looks at you the more you blush, and acting nonchalant about the whole thing so Sam doesn’t think you’re a wimp. “Charlie tried to take my coffee mug when it was still hot. Really, really hot. I didn’t think coffee could get hot enough to burn people, but Garth likes his drinks especially hot so I think he adjusted the machine somehow.” You stop your rambling and suck in a breath. “It’s really not a big deal,” you add as if that’ll make you seem tougher when in reality you’d just admitted you’d bandaged up your hand after spilling hot coffee on it.

“Oh. I actually heard something about that a while ago. Some woman sued McDonald’s for serving her coffee that gave her serious burns and she got compensation because McDonald’s apparently knew their coffee was dangerous and was serving it at a dangerous temperature on purpose,” Sam rambles and you frown. For some reason you’re having a serious case of deja vu, and you instinctively flinch, imagining that something just lunged for you. Why would something lunge for you?

You clear your throat after a moment of silence and prompt, “What did Cas and Dean do in the vending machine?”

Sam looks away from your hand and then at you. Dimples appear in his cheeks (you want to swoon; he has dimples?! ) as he chuckles. “They were having an indoor picnic for a date since Dean’s hours are all screwy at the moment.”

“That’s sweet,” you say softly, imagining you and Sam having a picnic inside because one of you is too busy working to have seen each other properly. When you realize what you’d been imagining, you blush and look away.

How is Sam Winchester so goddamn beautiful?

“I thought it was corny,” Sam admits. “Probably because he’s my brother.”

You duck your head. To spare you from an awkward silence, the elevator doors finally open and the two of you practically sprint to your rooms.

You heave out a sigh as you lean against your closed apartment door. You’re a mess.

Crookshanks trills at you from his spot on the counter, delighted that he’s getting treats earlier than he normally does.

“I’m coming, I’m coming,” you mutter, pushing yourself off the door to him. Unfortunately, you hadn’t been looking at the ground so you hadn’t noticed the liquid on the floor as well as the glass.

Your foot slips out from underneath you and you cry out as you fall back. Your hands brace your fall, but your bandaged hand smarts. You curse loudly as you roll over, shaking out your sore hand. A drop of liquid hits your face. Your fingers come away red when you touch it. There are broken glass shards sticking out of the heel of your hand and blood wells up from them quickly and stains the bandages on your hand red.

You get up carefully, minding the liquid and glass and cradle your hurt hand so as not to get blood everywhere as you pad to the sink. A steady stream of curses fall from your mouth. Crookshanks swipes at you when you walk past him without giving him treats, but you don’t even bother to humor him.

Loud knocking at the door makes you jump. “Y/N? Are you all right?” It’s Sam. Oh, so he’s conscientious as well as beautiful? There’s got to be something wrong with him. No one can be that perfect.

“I’m fine!” You call back. “My damn cat—”

“Do you need help?”

You survey the scene: you, with a bleeding and burnt hand, water and glass on the floor, Crookshanks sniffing at the crime scene—

You yelp. “Crookshanks! Get away from that! Just a second, Sam! Sorry!”

You want to wrap a towel around your hand so you don’t get blood everywhere but that would push the glass shards deeper into your skin so you just lunge for your cat and scoop him up with your good hand. You toss him into your bedroom and slam the door shut so he doesn’t hurt himself before opening up the door.

Sam takes in the drops of blood on your cheek, collarbone, and shirt, and finds the source immediately. “What happened?” he asks, carefully taking your hand by the wrist and leading you to the kitchen sink, being mindful of the mess in the hallway. You almost slip again on a drop of your own blood but he holds you up. The only thing you can think about is how embarrassed you are, and how impressed you are that he can literally hold you up with one hand without any struggle.

“My dumbass cat knocked over the cup I left out and I slipped on the water and cut my hand,” you grumble, embarrassment making your cheeks flaming. “This is just not my day, I guess.”

“That’s why you should get a dog,” Sam jokes.

“Yeah, I will, once I move,” you say, immediately brightening at the thought. “I hope Crookshanks gets along with it.”

“What kind of dog are you going to get?” Sam asks. He puts your hand over the sink and hunches down. His broad shoulders keep you from seeing what he’s doing.

Your hand is immediately the most sensitive part of your body. You feel every twitch of his fingers as they touch yours.

You wince as your hand stings and instinctively try to bring it closer to your body. Sam’s hands don’t let your hand twitch. He’s so strong.

You hate that you sound like a teenage girl with a celebrity crush.

“What are you—”

“I’m trying to get the glass out of your hand and distract you at the same time.”

“How do you know how to do that?” You’re genuinely interested; you’d thought that you would have to patch yourself up.

“Well…” Sam pauses and you wince as he gets another piece of glass from your skin. How his large fingers can be so gentle and precise, you don’t know. “My dad liked to leave beer bottles all around the house in precarious positions. Me and my brother got good at getting glass out of skin. We were pretty clumsy kids.”

It sounds like a lie, but you let it slide. It’s not like you two are close enough to be sharing family secrets.

“But back to the dog you want,” Sam says. “Describe your ideal dog.”

“Um…” You bite your lip as you stare at his muscular back and broad shoulders. “I really like—” Your voice turns into a squeak as he pulls what feels to be a particularly large shard out of your hand. “I really like big dogs, you know? So maybe a Briard—they’re really obedient, or a Neapolitan Mastiff like Brutus, Mr. Crowley’s dog. I would really like a Portugese Water dog, though. When I was younger I had a Labradoodle but she never liked the water and I really want a dog that likes to swim. My family has a lake that I own now—”

“Done.” Sam lets you go and the first thing you feel is disappointment, and then surprise. You hadn’t expected to get so distracted you wouldn’t feel the pain. You’d been so distracted you’d started to babble.

“Thanks.” You grin at him. “Can you grab the first-aid kit? It’s in that cabinet.” You point with your good hand. It’s in the only cabinet you can reach without getting on your tiptoes.

Sam hands it to you. You stick your bad hand under cool water from the faucet and pick out everything you’ll need to bandage yourself up with your other hand.

Once you’re all bandaged up, you turn around to see that Sam had cleaned up the mess on the floor.

“You didn’t need to do that,” you say, staring at the ground. You’re not quite sure what to say to Sam, the perfect gentleman.

“It really wasn’t any trouble,” he says gently, smiling down at you. The dimples hit you full-blast again.

You don’t have a response for that, so you just stare at him, and the smile slowly drops off Sam’s face as he takes a step closer to you. “Y/N—”

Your cat interrupts with a howl behind the door as he scratches it. You both look away with heated faces and you almost trip as you skirt around Sam to open the door and let him out. Crookshanks, ever an oblivious fuck, just beeps at you indignantly for locking him up and jumps onto the counter for treats.

“Thanks again, Sam,” you say with your back turned, an obvious dismissal. “If you ever need anything, let me know.”

He sighs. You don’t know why (you think you do, but there’s no way). “You too, Y/N.”

You don’t turn around until you hear the door open and close. Then you turn and slump against the counter. You shouldn’t feel this way about Sam, he’s your brother…

You frown and raise your hand to your temple. Where did that come from? Sam’s not your brother; you barely know him. You’ve been his neighbor for two years after you moved to town and only noticed him a few months ago.

You feel a headache coming on.

Crookshanks rubs his head against your arm. “I know,” you say absently to him and scratch the base of his tail. “I know. Weird.” You pick him up.

He meows, only the sound comes from behind you and not from in your arms.

You whirl, your hand flying to where you keep your gun, only there’s no gun in your waistband. You’ve never even held a gun. Why would you keep a gun in your waistband? You are crashing hard from that cup of coffee. You need to sleep.

After setting an alarm on your phone for 8 o’clock and making sure it’s plugged in and charging, you fall onto the bed. It only takes you a few minutes to fall asleep, which is a new record for you—it’s hard to relax sometimes.

For some reason you dream that Sam and Dean Winchester are standing over your sleeping form and shaking you. You wake up halfway multiple times, positive that someone actually touched you, but it was either only Crookshanks or your imagination.

You scowl in your sleep as Dream-Dean and Sam beg you to do something. You would do it if you could make out what they want you to do.

Sam can’t seem to take his eyes off your lifeless form, face paler than he’s ever seen.

“I don’t understand,” Dean says. “Y/N knows what a djinn world looks like. Why won’t she wake up?”

@lemirabitur @annymcervantes

[wildlyhardphilosopher-blog]

Train your Dog to STOP CHASING & LUNGING at CARS: Where to Start, | how to potty train an older dog

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Train your Dog to STOP CHASING & LUNGING at CARS: Where to Start, | how to potty train an older dog

Return from Puppy Training to Training Your Dog and You Pawpular Posts Hill’s® Science Diet® Youthful Vitality Adult 7+ Small & Toy Breed Chicken & Rice Recipe Dog Food Search the Library Catalog Sign Up based on a sound understanding of dog behavior and learning theory. 1. Take time off to housetrain your dog. Someone needs to take your dog out for midday bathroom breaks, so experts recommend taking time off work when you first get your dog. If that’s not an option, you could also hire a dog walker. Hold a treat close to your puppy’s nose and slowly move it up and towards the back of her head 17 Jan 2018, 3:45pm Kit & Kaboodle® Privacy Policy (Updated) Get In Touch Earlier this year, we got a new poodle puppy. Grunt, the chocolate brown miniature, is the 5th poodle to grace my world. Some think poodles are silly, but actually as dogs go, they are among the smartest, most versatile, and most loveable canines. One guy actually had them pull a sled for the Iditarod. In fact, they are so amazing, I have never really understood why people would bother crossing them with a Labrador to create the abomination called labradoodles. Potty training is obviously one of the first things you’ll want to teach your puppy. If done properly, potty training is not difficult. The key is to be consistent. 181 COMMENTS jigsaw👸 “Leave it” to interrupt a distraction like a food item on the ground or another dog walking by. Some General Rules: Small Dog Classes Scouts & Groups Quizzes Just type and press ‘enter’ Just walk back and forth, and don’t make a big deal about anything. Dogs can be easily distracted and love to get attention, so if you give her attention, she’ll never figure it out! You will be training your puppy from the moment you bring it home and start to house train. Puppies start learning from birth and good breeders begin handling and socialization right away. Some training can begin as soon as the puppy can open its eyes and walk. Young puppies have short attention spans but you can expect them to begin to learn simple obedience commands such as “sit,” “down,” and “stay,” as young as 7 to 8 weeks of age. How to Train a Puppy to Use a Pad & Go Outside Financial Reports (276) Getting Your Pup Started On The Right Path We Recommend New Skete Dog Training Nuestra Casa Su Casa (Our Home is Your Home) Best suited to: Everybody! I highly recommend using a crate during the house training process because it’s so effective. Find a Store Google NaturVet NUTRO To train this, get your dog into a sit then you can coax him to the down position by moving your hand with a treat, toward the ground. He will follow your hand and will get into the down position. Rachael Ray Nutrish Put your left hand on his shoulders while holding a treat in your right hand in front of his face. Say “Down” and slowly lower the treat straight down to the floor between the dog’s paws, then slowly pull it straight out and away from the pup. (Imagine making an “L” shape.) Once he’s down, praise him and give him the treat. Applied Mathematics Stop Dogs from Biting When placing the puppy in the crate, use word “kennel” or “kennel up”. Dandie Dinmont Terrier Among the step to housetraining success is being able to foretell when your dog needs to eliminate. Your puppy is likely to need to relieve himself:

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fbq('track', 'ViewContent', content_ids: 'dogtraining.dknol', ); Live Chat Cages & Stands After your puppy has given you 20 or 30 seconds of attention, give him the toy. Play with him a bit, then relax and try walking again. Gradually increase the time you walk together during your training sessions, then gradually stop using the toy. Eventually your dog will walk happily at your side whenever he’s on his leash. Titles & Abbreviations You got a puppy partly because they’re really cute. But mostly because you look forward to the companionship of a friendly, easy-going, behaviorally healthy dog. Socialization is how you get from cute now to cool later. SBI! The first step of teaching your dog to go potty only outside is deciding where his potty area will be. Will it be in your back yard, front yard, on the balcony? Or will you take him out for a walk and let him go out at the curb or on the little patch of grass down at the corner? Or maybe you’d like to train him to go in the yard sometimes and sometimes out on his walk. All of these options are possible, but you’ll need to make a decision and be clear with your dog where you want him to go so he doesn’t get confused. You have no items in your cart. Jerseys & Team Sports Whining, crying and howling often result when a puppy is left alone. Puppies will whine and cry when separated from their owners. The puppy is afraid he is being abandoned by his pack and is sounding the alarm so that he can be rescued. At other times, a puppy whines, crys, or barks because they need or want something. Subscribe to our newsletter. Monks of New Skete (1978). How to be Your Dog’s Best Friend: A Training Manual for Dog Owners, London : Little Brown (1) You said potty first thing in the morning. Let’s say 7:30 am. Then if I feed him at 7:45, does he need to potty again before 8:00, less than half an hour from the previous go? Martin Park, Boulder CO When you first wake up, last thing at night and very regularly during the day, take your puppy outside to a place in your garden that you have chosen. If you use newspaper or puppy pads overnight, pop some of the soiled paper in this area as the smell will help your puppy to know where to go to the toilet. Let your puppy walk up and down or run about and sniff the area (both exercise and sniffing help stimulate going to the loo). It’s best to let your puppy out in the garden without a lead on as it will be too restrictive, however if your puppy needs to be on lead for whatever reason, an extendable lead is a good solution as this will give them the freedom they need to toilet. No Progress? It Could Be Due To Medical Issues Recommend1 Potty Training Puppy Training Comments (4) Pets First First and foremost, WE LOVE DOGS! We want to see them succeed just as much as you do. Our team is here to help YOU achieve the goals you’ve set for your dog, and we will do whatever it takes to meet those expectations. East Side Collection Toggle Mobile Menu Shoes & Socks It also sometimes helps to give your dog something else to do in the moments when he is excited. For example, you might enter your home with one of your dog’s toys in hand, toss it away from you, walk past your dog while he retrieves it, then greet your dog several minutes later once the initial excitement worn off. So although when home I’m vigilant and very actively house training my puppy to toilet outside, I also have to paper train them for the odd occasion I’m not home. After speaking with many friends and owners, I know this is a common scenario for many. Swap Your Classes Check all that interest you. Subscription Hip Doggie When placing the puppy in the crate, use word “kennel” or “kennel up”. Colby’s Favorite & Sponsored Puppy Products View Adopt × Enhance Your Cat’s Social Life FM Browns Updated: October 14, 2016 Tip #6: Get Out of Bed Dogs are pack animals EARLY CHILDHOOD, PRESCHOOL  & YOUTH Shy Dog (Wallflowers) Private Training Ron and Don puppies Topics: Crate Training, Crate training puppies at night, Crate training dogs, Crate training puppies, Puppy crate training tips, Crate training tips, Crate training schedule, Crate training a puppy, Crate training your dog puppy training for kids | potty training for dogs puppy training for kids | potty training yorkies puppy training for kids | potty training older dogs Legal | Sitemap

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10 Ways to Relieve Boredom in Dogs

Recent studies found that boredom in canines is very real, and it’s more dangerous than one might assume. Research demonstrated the negative effects of boredom on dog’s mental health, and how pets who aren’t mentally stimulated will go through several stages starting with boredom, leading into apathy, then stress and depression.

According to Charlotte C. Burn, a biologist at The Royal Veterinary College, dogs and other animals can easily feel bored in the exact same way and for similar reasons that humans do. Dogs often express boredom with unwanted and irritating behavior, like barking, aggression, chewing, and whining. However, relieving boredom in dogs is not difficult and pet owners have many ways to do this.

1. More Playtime with the Dog

To relieve boredom in dogs you need to entertainment them, and the most effective way to do that is to spend time playing together. Games like fetch or tug of war are fun for both of you and they will keep your dog in good shape. Keep switching the games up to ensure your pooch still has interest in them.

Mentally stimulating games are a great choice because they will keep your dog excited for a longer time and flex his brain muscles. Try interactive games and puzzle games. Play hide and seek. Play tag. Blow bubbles for your dog to chase. Be creative and think of a new game to make it more interesting for the Fido.

2. Buy New Toys or Rotate Old Ones

Dogs can become bored with their toys after a while, according to some studies. You’ll need to buy new dog toys for your pooch occasionally, and keep rotating them – switch to a different toy every week, and bring the old toy back in a few months. There are plenty of cheap dog toys that won’t cost an arm and a leg, but if it still gets too expensive, try making your own DIY dog toys.

Teaching your dog the names of his toys is another fantastic way to keep him mentally stimulated. Simply assign a “command/name” to each of his toys, and when playing, ask your pet to take and bring a specific toy.

3. Longer Walks and New Paths

Walking your dog more often or taking him on longer walks will work wonders in eliminating boredom. Experts explain how doggy walks provide both physical exercise and mental stimulation.

Take your dog on a new route to make it more stimulating and let your dog explore along the way. Take a hike when you have more free time and visit multiple locations. Let him off the leash and let the dog run free, but make sure that you are in a place where it is safe to do so.

4. Consistent Training Sessions

Regular training sessions are a great way to improve the bond with your dog, to keep him entertained and alleviating boredom. Even though there are different kinds of dog training methods and approaches, like agility, obedience and tricks, they are all good for the Fido. Try mixing it up and do a bit of everything. Use your time more efficiently and train your pooch even when you are on a walk, especially obedience commands.

5. Give Your Dog a Job

Your dog can benefit from helping you with some of your chores, not to mention how hilarious it is to have a video of your pet loading laundry baskets or picking up his toys and cleaning his room. Teach your dog to fetch something from the fridge for you or to turn the lights on and off.

6. Make Him Work for Food

Make feeding time mentally stimulating for your pooch with interactive puzzle feeders, food dispensing toys and bowls that slow down eating. This will force the dog to figure out how to get the food out. Do nose work with your dog and make him sniff for his food. Scent-tracking will keep him busy and proud of himself when he finds the food, doing wonders for his confidence and for relieving boredom.

7. Keep Him Entertained when You Are Away

You must provide your dog with something to do when you are at work and he is home alone. Since dogs are social animals, they will get bored quickly when they are alone.

Take him on a walk before you leave or consider hiring a professional dog walker or a sitter if you will be out for a long time. Give your dog a chew toy. Leave the radio or TV on so your dog doesn’t feel alone. There are also special CDs with soothing music for dogs you can purchase, and studies showed this to be effective for separation anxiety.

8. Help Him Relax Properly

Most dogs are able to relax naturally, but others might need a bit of help. Learn how to massage your dog, especially if you have an older pet or one with arthritis. Massages can relieve pain from joints, reduce anxiety and stress and improve circulation. They also help you strengthen your bond with your pooch and keep your dog entertained.

Groom your pooch regularly. Bathe your dog, brush his coat and teeth and trim his nails, or take him to a professional groomer from time to time. Give your dog belly rubs and pet him often to help him relax and prevent boredom.

9. Buy a Doggie Pool

Most dogs enjoy water, so get a wading dog pool for your pooch to splash around in. Put some toys in the pool to make it even more interesting for the pet. Of course, if you can take your dog to the beach or to a lake, do it as often as you can.

Not only will swimming promote his physical and mental health (provided you actually get a proper pool; not the one like on the right), but there are other benefits to this – some canine experts even suggest to replace regular dog walks with swimming in dog pools.

10. Socialize Your Dog

Probably the most effective way to relieve boredom in dogs is to give your pet an opportunity to socialize – take him to new places where he will meet new people and other dogs. Arrange play dates or take him to a dog park.

You can also take your pet to doggy daycare. If your dog has to be alone a lot, taking him to a daycare is a great way to keep him entertained and mentally stimulated. He will interact with other dogs and humans, so make sure that your dog is not anxious around other people or dogs. If he is, doggy daycare might not be a good choice for him.

Enroll your pooch in a class. Teaching your dog new skills is a great way to stimulate your dog, but it can even be better with a professional. Group classes can also be fun. You can find classes near you by talking with your vet or your local humane society. Your vet can also suggest the best type of class for your dog.

READ NEXT: Top 6 Best Toys for Dogs With Separation Anxiety

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The Many Behaviors That Shows You Need Dog Training GA

By Shirley Sullivan

In many homes, there is a higher chance you find your host keeping dogs as pets. It has always been said these animals are the best friend of the human. Though we love these pets, we must ensure they get trained in various ways such as staying calm when there is a visitor. Today, the dog training GA services make the animal behave and take instructions well. Some people keep these creatures. If you do, ensure they behave well and show the discipline. One thing done is to train them in various things so that they live peacefully in the apartments without annoying people around. With those that behave well, they take instructions from people. If you want to make them behave, you must hire the right person to retrain it the on various aspects. There are several signs you need to hire an expert and train the puppy. If a grown-up bull and when you walk it, you keep up with it keenly, there is a problem. When it comes to walking the animal, you will struggle if it keeps jumping from here to there. This indicates that it has not been guided on how to go with the owner. You notice that many walkers struggle as the pooch is pulling the owner from its leash. Sometimes, it may not keep up with the pace as it walks too faster and you run. This is not an ordinary occurrence as this indicates it missed some to enable it to go with the pace you are walking with. The trainer can help you with this problem and ensure it keeps to the standard. Just like the human, the pooch will hear what is being said and stop misbehaving. However, it is common to come across some that will not obey the commands. If you give instructions but it fails to follow them, you must act. Here, you teach them how to behave well and respond to the commands given. With a trainer, things become easier. Because these are considered man best friend, when one arrives at home, they will be all over jumping and running. If you tried stopping it from jumping over you or even the visitors, you need to do something about this. The trainer will come in to ensure that your pooch learns the boundaries within which they are not supposed to jump on people coming. Obedience training is something you give to your pooch. It is no brainer that when it starts showing signs of aggression, you ensure it cools down. When they start showing aggression towards other animals or people, or they want to attack anything they come across, act fast and prevent the incidences. If you kept these pets at home, you hear them barking. If they are barking at anything, they have some manners to show. In fact, those that keeps on barking because annoyance and this is terrible behavior. You end up signing an expert who teaches them how to calm down and stop barking whenever they hear some sounds or encounter strangers.

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Welcome to February, and being very late to joining the “Welcome 2018” train, Happy New Year?  From the Dog Trainer Mama perspective, January was pretty interesting…the entire month simply got away from me!  The kids went back to school, the holidays are over, and we are immersing ourselves back into all of our after school sports, academics, and play dates. So where does that leave my dogs while I get my crap together? At home. Up until the past few weeks, my dogs normally free roam the house when we leave, and it’s not an issue. I can’t say it’s never been an issue, because while Karma was amazing from day one, Vino had a normal puppy stage of nonsense thefts, and chewing.  He was always a food motivated little weirdo, but we worked through it, and he’s learned a healthy respect for what is mine…until recently.

This week alone, I’ve had multiple clients contact me about their dogs “suddenly becoming destructive for no reason”.  I kind of chuckle when I think about what our idea of “for no reason” is, and what the reality is behind it.  So I decided to put myself on blast for a moment, and let me be the example, and the learning moment for all of you, because it can seriously happen to ANYONE!

I want you to disconnect from your relationship with the struggling dog, in this case, we will use Vino.  Forget what their past was for just a moment, and let’s talk about what the current issue is.  Vino is stealing food off of tables, counters, and various locations if it’s unattended, and if you have turned your back.  He has been tearing apart his beds, blankets, boxes he finds, and various kids toys.  In 15 years of dog ownership, I have never had a dog dig through the trash…well Vino can now check that off of his bucket list.  He can also thank that adventure for his crate time when I leave the house now.  I am often surprised at how many of my clients have assumed that damage and “acting out” is just okay, but it’s not, it means something!

I Don’t think I really have a problem – So in reality, the first step is realizing there is an issue with your situation to begin with.  IF you leave home, knowing that you will return to potty accidents, or damage to your personal items, and property, then this is likely going to be pretty helpful to your household.  Because…Those things should NOT be happening.  Period.  You shouldn’t have to pick up the aftermath of your dog when you get home everyday, and this doesn’t sound like the set up for a super healthy companionship to thrive in.  It is, however, a pretty good sign that your dog is missing something, and is replacing those energy release needs with what he CAN get to.  Which is your wall…

Taking responsibility – Now that we know there is a problem, we move on to our second part…which, in this case, is taking responsibility for my part in all of this.  This is why I find the “for no reason” comment so amusing, there is ALWAYS a reason.  Around the first part of November, we caught the nasty flu bug, and it circulated our house (NO JOKE) for 2-3 straight months.  It felt like death (really, Ava was even hospitalized at one point!)…which means, a lot of my normal activities stopped for about that same amount of time.  In reality, it messed with our daily walks, I stopped running with them in the evenings, our training sessions were not as often, or as long, we haven’t attended a class, and all in all, their normal exercise (both mental and physical) was seriously lacking.  When you take into account what my dogs are used to doing on a daily basis, it’s even harder for them to do next to nothing.  Karma is great at bouncing back to and from down time, but Vino needs much more than she does.  We had a few instances each day, where we would leave to take Aiden to school, and come back to find that he had snagged ANYTHING he could find, and devoured it…it’s dangerous for him, and frustrating for me. Remember above, when I said it’s not normal to expect disaster, and clean up when you come home…good example!  So obviously we crated him when we left from that point on…good start, so…I’m done now, right?  Nope.

I’ll just get a crate – The crate can, and is, a reasonable way to react to destruction.  The dog clearly can’t be cool when he’s free, and alone for a lot of reasons. I don’t want to dismiss a perfectly safe option based on sympathy (you had no problem putting up play pens for your baby so he didn’t stick his finger in an electrical socket…just sayin’…). Safety really is my biggest point with crating, i don’t want to leave my dog alone if he can get into dangerous items, or find himself caught in precarious places.  However, another important point is how it is going to effect our connection (or “bond”) by leaving my dog in a position to constantly destroy my home, and my things. While crating is a good start, it’s NOT the only thing needed here.  Shutting your dog into a small space instead of dealing with the underlying issue is more of a “bandaid” for the moments I cannot watch what he’s up to.  It’s absolutely not going to fix the issue at hand.  So what is the issue at hand then?  It’s surprisingly pretty simple, this dog is NOT getting what he needs to burn the physical and mental energy he has (In my case, in a way he is accustomed to).  Which leads me to my part in combating the problems we are having at home.

Just like all of you, I have 24 hours in a day, and it’s up to me to make sure all of my family gets what they need in that time frame.  That’s kind of what I promised my dogs when I decided to make them part of our family, so they should be allotted some of my time to keep them balanced daily as well.  Another words, even if I feel justified with sickness keeping me down, I SHOULD make sure they are getting enrichment, and exercise each day, and prioritize it into my schedule.  If I don’t, then I really can’t be upset with my dog, for being bored.  You know, the saying, “A tired dog, makes a happy owner”, in this case, it’s pretty spot on.  Tire the brain, exhaust the body, then your dog won’t have to find other ways to do that for himself!

What a thief – Now that we have that pesky responsibility issue out-of-the-way, lets back track to his food issues.  Remember when I said to push the history of your pup aside?  Now it’s time to bring that back into play!  It does help give me insight to his previous training, and needs, but don’t rely on what has worked before being the only option. Vino has always been a serious food hound, and as a puppy we really had to work hard with him on impulse control. With that being said, impulse control exercises are a great way to start, for a lot of reasons!  They are a great tool for mental exercise, and can be so unbelievably versatile, and easy to fit into your schedule. You can start with;

-Control feeding times, and make them work for meals.

-Play games (hide and go seek, find it, cups, you name it!)

-Load puzzle toys with meals (there are TONS online now to purchase!)

-Make them work for whatever they want! (Food, toys, ride, walks, anything!)

-Work on “LEAVE-IT!”  Up the anti and progress with your dog to further stimulation, and build reliability!

-The “wait” command is my fave, and you can progress with your dog, continuing to make it more of a challenge as they catch on.

-Stay is great, add distance, distraction, and duration!

-Introduce them to new things!  Physical items, sports, games, anything!

-This one is VERY important for those of you that have a counter surfer, and super hard for those of you with kids!  Now that your dog has made the reward connection to your counters, and tables, make sure you ALWAYS keep your counters clear.  If they check often, and find nothing from now on, it is no longer a lucrative exercise, because there is no longer a reward.  If you leave snacks, even small ones, they make for a pretty tasty reward, and the repetition of a nasty habit!

Let’s take a walk –  This is my second get real moment, walk your dog.  Run your dog!  Hire a dog walker…it doesn’t matter, both stimulation’s are important to tire your dog’s needs. Take into context the personalities, AND BREED, when you take in a dog, or when you are judging the exercise needs for your pal. Vino is a higher energy mastiff breed (lol, yes that exists), which is WHY I got him in the first place. We have dabbled in running together (he fails here…this is past his lazy point), Agility (he loves this!), and nose work, on top of our normal obedience. I knew this is what I was in for the day I told myself, “yeah, I can totally take in a tiny Cane Corso…”.  So it’s absolutely necessary for me to meet his physical exercise needs on top of his mental energy needs.

Training is a MUST – Dogs are not born knowing what you want from them. Sure we are connected in a way, but that doesn’t mean they can read your mind.  So take your dog to obedience classes, just give it a try!  It doesn’t mean you can’t “do it on your own”, in fact most good group classes are literally just giving YOU the skills to teach your dog on your own in the most constructive way!  Search out a good “positive” trainer (a topic for another day) that can help you earn a good relationship with your dog.  By positive I mean someone who can work with your dog outside of slapping on aversive tools to hurry anything along. As your dog progresses, move on to some fun sports that will offer you both a good bond, some fun, AND exercise (both mental, and physical). If you like to compete, and your dog is on board, there are tons of ways to find a group near you.

Combine it all!-  Let’s recap, destruction of any kind is not okay.  Crating is alright, but not a resolution. Dogs need both mental, and physical stimulation…cough, cough, I can’t say this enough…this is the millionth time…Look at your dog, and say, “what can he need from me?” Instead of “this dog doesn’t get it!” because it’s usually us.  Take in to account the personality, and breed of your dog when you decide what exercise they need.  Get some thinker toys, use your training wisely with meal times, always make them work for a reward, and don’t be afraid to try out new classes!!!!  Nothing in life is free, you can look at food and treats as currency if it makes it easier for you.  When your dog is tearing up your house, your yard, and “acting out” if you will, realize they are missing something, and give them what they need.  Your dog is a part of your life for a reason, so make the time to help them have a healthy and happy life with you!

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Destructive dogs…why can’t THEY just chill out?! Welcome to February, and being very late to joining the “Welcome 2018” train, Happy New Year?  From the…

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How Your Dog Can Pass the Canine Good Citizen Test

I’ve done lots of training with my five-year-old Vizsla, Finley. Tons, in fact. She’s smart and energetic and really wants to work with me on new challenges. Plus, she has severe separation anxiety, so my husband and I have spent countless hours on basic training, desensitization and counterconditioning, trick training in an effort to physically and mentally exhaust her, and more. But one thing we had yet to tackle is the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen Test.

First, what is the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen Test?

Finley waits patiently. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

The AKC’s Canine Good Citizen, or CGC, program has been around since 1989 and is intended to instruct and inspire responsible dog ownership. Acing the test is about much more than bragging rights or framing a certificate to hang on your wall. There are practical benefits to your pup passing the 10-point exam. It’s a major bargaining chip when you’re checking into a dog-friendly hotel, it’s a good starting point for more advanced training like agility, it will give both you and your dog a boost of confidence and perhaps inspire you to do even more training together, and you may even inspire other people and pets in your community to achieve the title.

What’s more, if you’re hiring a dog sitter or walker or trying to enroll your pup in doggy daycare, having the CGC credential will be somewhat of a feather in your cap. And you’re given official acknowledgement — plus self-assurance— that your dog knows how to behave just about anywhere.

I was convinced the program was worth our time. To get started, I read the AKC’s Responsible Dog Owner’s Pledge, which covers everything from ensuring that your dog’s health, safety, exercise, training and quality of life needs are met, to picking up your dog’s poop in public places. Then, reading through the test itself, I soon realized this was something we had been preparing for since day one of welcoming Finley into our family. Of course, there are obedience classes you can register for and even formal CGC training that you can complete, but it might not be necessary if you take matters into your own hands and are motivated to help your pet. Here’s how I did it with my dog, Finley.

Test 1: Accept a friendly stranger

Finley is polite but curious. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

How Finley fared: Finley is the type of dog who receives a lot of attention when we’re out and about. People often approach us exclaiming, “How cute!” or “Awww!” and my husband and I often think they’re referring to our little (human) girl. Nope, they’re usually in awe of Finley. She’s a beautiful pup with a warm disposition and seems to be a magnet for friendly people.

From the very beginning when we brought her home at 7 weeks, we exposed her to all types of people in all types of situations to help her become well socialized. This has always meant a lot of leash walks around the neighborhood, running into people we know or other people with dogs who want to say “hello.” The AKC test requires your dog “show no sign of resentment or shyness” when a friendly stranger approaches to speak with the owner and shake their hand. Check and check! Finley usually just waits to be acknowledged, which usually happens soon after I am.

Test 2: Sit politely to be pet

How Finley fared: Thankfully, this is one of Finley’s favorite things to do: accept attention from a new person. And one of the first things we trained her to do is sit when we stop to greet someone or for her to receive attention. And much like test 1, we get to practice this almost every day on our walks outside. She does this successfully, again without “shyness or resentment.”

Test 3: Appearance and grooming

How Finley fared: Although Finley doesn’t require haircuts, we’ve been giving her baths, dremeling her nails, cleaning her ears and brushing her teeth from the very beginning. She certainly doesn’t love the experience of being groomed, but she tolerates it well. As instructed by her breeder, we got her used to having us touch her all over her body, put our hands in her mouth, and examine her ears and eyes. As far as appearances go, Finley is the type of dog who licks herself clean at the end of the day, so she’s always well kept. But for dogs who aren’t inclined to do that, some well-timed treats while you brush and bathe are a good idea.

Test 4: Walk on a loose lead

How Finley fared: Having plenty of experience walking dogs who pull, I was highly motivated to train my own dog to walk politely when we brought her home. Thanks to some great web articles, my husband and I were able to train her in her first year. Part of the AKC test requires doing a right turn, a left turn and an about turn, with at least one stop in between. For a million reasons, these are all part of our daily walks so Finley is more than accustomed to following our sometimes erratic routes.

Test 5: Walk through a crowd

How Finley fared: I’m the type of person who will take my dog with me wherever I’m going, whether it’s the farmers’ market, the park or dog-friendly errands like Home Depot. So while we don’t get tons of practice on crowded city streets, Finley has plenty of experience weaving through people both indoors and out.

Test 6: Sit and down on command, and stay in place

Finley knows how to sit and stay. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

How Finley fared: For Finley, sit was the easiest command to learn and she does it 100 times a day for us now. But there were times I never thought Finley would learn the down command. She seemed averse to lying on the ground from a standing or sitting position, unless it was to collapse in a heap at the end of the day. But lots of training (and treats!) finally got us there. Getting her to stay was not as difficult as I had feared. Still, she waits politely for her instructions and is always happy-as-can-be when we give her the “ok!”

Test 7: Come when called

How Finley fared: Being a velcro dog, Finley has to be told to “stay” to get further than a few feet from us. This test requires walking 10 feet away from your dog, so I would have Finley sit or go into the down position, then stay while I walked away. Again, she’s vigilantly listening for the “come!” command and more than happy to oblige the mini reunion.

Test 8: React to another dog

How Finley fared: Introducing Finley to other dogs from an early age (after she received all her shots, of course) meant putting her on the path to good canine citizenship. At this point, I’m confident my pup will get along with just about any other dog. This portion of the test involves other dogs and their owners approaching for a greeting but the dogs “should show no more than casual interest in each other.” I’ll be the first to admit, my dog is an enthusiastic butt sniffer. So to make sure she keeps her distance I simply tell her to “sit” and “stay.”

Test 9: React to distraction

How Finley fared: I’d argue that this is a great skill for humans to have as well, but teaching a dog to remain calm during any unexpected noise or movement can be super important. Letting your dog explore the world with you is one great way to do that. Finley has witnessed cars backfiring, bikers whizzing by, and toy basketball hoops crashing down to the ground (thanks to our toddler), all without flinching. It would be difficult to orchestrate such distractions, but thankfully the real world provides plenty of practice.

Test 10: Supervised separation

How Finley fared: If you’re a doting dog parent (like me), you’re familiar with the concept of asking someone to watch your dog or keep her company if you leave the house for more than a few hours. Not only have paid dog sitters watched Finley, but nearly all of our extended family members have as well. For the record, Finley’s separation anxiety has little to do with me or my husband. She loves people — all people— and just wants to hang out with them. In this case, the test requires I go out of sight for three minutes and Finley stay with the trusted handler without panicking or misbehaving. As long as it’s a warm body willing to be next to Finley, she’s good as gold!

Once you’ve mastered the CGC test, there’s no telling what else you and your dog can accomplish. For Finley and me, that might mean some tracking work. My pup loves a good scent and can find treats that we hide around the house for her. Anything to keep her busy and on her best behavior!

Tell us: Is your dog a Canine Good Citizen? Would you try to get your dog to pass the test? Let us know how you did it in the comments, and learn more by visiting the Canine Good Citizen Program website.

Thumbnail: Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

Read more about dog training on Dogster.com:

What to Do to Stop Dog Chewing

7 Ways to Turn Walking the Dog Into a Workout

Why Do Dogs Bark? Reasons Dogs Bark and How to Stop Excessive Dog Barking

The post How Your Dog Can Pass the Canine Good Citizen Test appeared first on Dogster.

[buynewsoul]

How Your Dog Can Pass the Canine Good Citizen Test

I’ve done lots of training with my five-year-old Vizsla, Finley. Tons, in fact. She’s smart and energetic and really wants to work with me on new challenges. Plus, she has severe separation anxiety, so my husband and I have spent countless hours on basic training, desensitization and counterconditioning, trick training in an effort to physically and mentally exhaust her, and more. But one thing we had yet to tackle is the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen Test.

First, what is the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen Test?

Finley waits patiently. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

The AKC’s Canine Good Citizen, or CGC, program has been around since 1989 and is intended to instruct and inspire responsible dog ownership. Acing the test is about much more than bragging rights or framing a certificate to hang on your wall. There are practical benefits to your pup passing the 10-point exam. It’s a major bargaining chip when you’re checking into a dog-friendly hotel, it’s a good starting point for more advanced training like agility, it will give both you and your dog a boost of confidence and perhaps inspire you to do even more training together, and you may even inspire other people and pets in your community to achieve the title.

What’s more, if you’re hiring a dog sitter or walker or trying to enroll your pup in doggy daycare, having the CGC credential will be somewhat of a feather in your cap. And you’re given official acknowledgement — plus self-assurance— that your dog knows how to behave just about anywhere.

I was convinced the program was worth our time. To get started, I read the AKC’s Responsible Dog Owner’s Pledge, which covers everything from ensuring that your dog’s health, safety, exercise, training and quality of life needs are met, to picking up your dog’s poop in public places. Then, reading through the test itself, I soon realized this was something we had been preparing for since day one of welcoming Finley into our family. Of course, there are obedience classes you can register for and even formal CGC training that you can complete, but it might not be necessary if you take matters into your own hands and are motivated to help your pet. Here’s how I did it with my dog, Finley.

Test 1: Accept a friendly stranger

Finley is polite but curious. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

How Finley fared: Finley is the type of dog who receives a lot of attention when we’re out and about. People often approach us exclaiming, “How cute!” or “Awww!” and my husband and I often think they’re referring to our little (human) girl. Nope, they’re usually in awe of Finley. She’s a beautiful pup with a warm disposition and seems to be a magnet for friendly people.

From the very beginning when we brought her home at 7 weeks, we exposed her to all types of people in all types of situations to help her become well socialized. This has always meant a lot of leash walks around the neighborhood, running into people we know or other people with dogs who want to say “hello.” The AKC test requires your dog “show no sign of resentment or shyness” when a friendly stranger approaches to speak with the owner and shake their hand. Check and check! Finley usually just waits to be acknowledged, which usually happens soon after I am.

Test 2: Sit politely to be pet

How Finley fared: Thankfully, this is one of Finley’s favorite things to do: accept attention from a new person. And one of the first things we trained her to do is sit when we stop to greet someone or for her to receive attention. And much like test 1, we get to practice this almost every day on our walks outside. She does this successfully, again without “shyness or resentment.”

Test 3: Appearance and grooming

How Finley fared: Although Finley doesn’t require haircuts, we’ve been giving her baths, dremeling her nails, cleaning her ears and brushing her teeth from the very beginning. She certainly doesn’t love the experience of being groomed, but she tolerates it well. As instructed by her breeder, we got her used to having us touch her all over her body, put our hands in her mouth, and examine her ears and eyes. As far as appearances go, Finley is the type of dog who licks herself clean at the end of the day, so she’s always well kept. But for dogs who aren’t inclined to do that, some well-timed treats while you brush and bathe are a good idea.

Test 4: Walk on a loose lead

How Finley fared: Having plenty of experience walking dogs who pull, I was highly motivated to train my own dog to walk politely when we brought her home. Thanks to some great web articles, my husband and I were able to train her in her first year. Part of the AKC test requires doing a right turn, a left turn and an about turn, with at least one stop in between. For a million reasons, these are all part of our daily walks so Finley is more than accustomed to following our sometimes erratic routes.

Test 5: Walk through a crowd

How Finley fared: I’m the type of person who will take my dog with me wherever I’m going, whether it’s the farmers’ market, the park or dog-friendly errands like Home Depot. So while we don’t get tons of practice on crowded city streets, Finley has plenty of experience weaving through people both indoors and out.

Test 6: Sit and down on command, and stay in place

Finley knows how to sit and stay. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

How Finley fared: For Finley, sit was the easiest command to learn and she does it 100 times a day for us now. But there were times I never thought Finley would learn the down command. She seemed averse to lying on the ground from a standing or sitting position, unless it was to collapse in a heap at the end of the day. But lots of training (and treats!) finally got us there. Getting her to stay was not as difficult as I had feared. Still, she waits politely for her instructions and is always happy-as-can-be when we give her the “ok!”

Test 7: Come when called

How Finley fared: Being a velcro dog, Finley has to be told to “stay” to get further than a few feet from us. This test requires walking 10 feet away from your dog, so I would have Finley sit or go into the down position, then stay while I walked away. Again, she’s vigilantly listening for the “come!” command and more than happy to oblige the mini reunion.

Test 8: React to another dog

How Finley fared: Introducing Finley to other dogs from an early age (after she received all her shots, of course) meant putting her on the path to good canine citizenship. At this point, I’m confident my pup will get along with just about any other dog. This portion of the test involves other dogs and their owners approaching for a greeting but the dogs “should show no more than casual interest in each other.” I’ll be the first to admit, my dog is an enthusiastic butt sniffer. So to make sure she keeps her distance I simply tell her to “sit” and “stay.”

Test 9: React to distraction

How Finley fared: I’d argue that this is a great skill for humans to have as well, but teaching a dog to remain calm during any unexpected noise or movement can be super important. Letting your dog explore the world with you is one great way to do that. Finley has witnessed cars backfiring, bikers whizzing by, and toy basketball hoops crashing down to the ground (thanks to our toddler), all without flinching. It would be difficult to orchestrate such distractions, but thankfully the real world provides plenty of practice.

Test 10: Supervised separation

How Finley fared: If you’re a doting dog parent (like me), you’re familiar with the concept of asking someone to watch your dog or keep her company if you leave the house for more than a few hours. Not only have paid dog sitters watched Finley, but nearly all of our extended family members have as well. For the record, Finley’s separation anxiety has little to do with me or my husband. She loves people — all people— and just wants to hang out with them. In this case, the test requires I go out of sight for three minutes and Finley stay with the trusted handler without panicking or misbehaving. As long as it’s a warm body willing to be next to Finley, she’s good as gold!

Once you’ve mastered the CGC test, there’s no telling what else you and your dog can accomplish. For Finley and me, that might mean some tracking work. My pup loves a good scent and can find treats that we hide around the house for her. Anything to keep her busy and on her best behavior!

Tell us: Is your dog a Canine Good Citizen? Would you try to get your dog to pass the test? Let us know how you did it in the comments, and learn more by visiting the Canine Good Citizen Program website.

Thumbnail: Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

Read more about dog training on Dogster.com:

What to Do to Stop Dog Chewing

7 Ways to Turn Walking the Dog Into a Workout

Why Do Dogs Bark? Reasons Dogs Bark and How to Stop Excessive Dog Barking

The post How Your Dog Can Pass the Canine Good Citizen Test appeared first on Dogster.

[grublypetcare]

How Your Dog Can Pass the Canine Good Citizen Test

I’ve done lots of training with my five-year-old Vizsla, Finley. Tons, in fact. She’s smart and energetic and really wants to work with me on new challenges. Plus, she has severe separation anxiety, so my husband and I have spent countless hours on basic training, desensitization and counterconditioning, trick training in an effort to physically and mentally exhaust her, and more. But one thing we had yet to tackle is the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen Test.

First, what is the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen Test?

Finley waits patiently. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

The AKC’s Canine Good Citizen, or CGC, program has been around since 1989 and is intended to instruct and inspire responsible dog ownership. Acing the test is about much more than bragging rights or framing a certificate to hang on your wall. There are practical benefits to your pup passing the 10-point exam. It’s a major bargaining chip when you’re checking into a dog-friendly hotel, it’s a good starting point for more advanced training like agility, it will give both you and your dog a boost of confidence and perhaps inspire you to do even more training together, and you may even inspire other people and pets in your community to achieve the title.

What’s more, if you’re hiring a dog sitter or walker or trying to enroll your pup in doggy daycare, having the CGC credential will be somewhat of a feather in your cap. And you’re given official acknowledgement — plus self-assurance— that your dog knows how to behave just about anywhere.

I was convinced the program was worth our time. To get started, I read the AKC’s Responsible Dog Owner’s Pledge, which covers everything from ensuring that your dog’s health, safety, exercise, training and quality of life needs are met, to picking up your dog’s poop in public places. Then, reading through the test itself, I soon realized this was something we had been preparing for since day one of welcoming Finley into our family. Of course, there are obedience classes you can register for and even formal CGC training that you can complete, but it might not be necessary if you take matters into your own hands and are motivated to help your pet. Here’s how I did it with my dog, Finley.

Test 1: Accept a friendly stranger

Finley is polite but curious. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

How Finley fared: Finley is the type of dog who receives a lot of attention when we’re out and about. People often approach us exclaiming, “How cute!” or “Awww!” and my husband and I often think they’re referring to our little (human) girl. Nope, they’re usually in awe of Finley. She’s a beautiful pup with a warm disposition and seems to be a magnet for friendly people.

From the very beginning when we brought her home at 7 weeks, we exposed her to all types of people in all types of situations to help her become well socialized. This has always meant a lot of leash walks around the neighborhood, running into people we know or other people with dogs who want to say “hello.” The AKC test requires your dog “show no sign of resentment or shyness” when a friendly stranger approaches to speak with the owner and shake their hand. Check and check! Finley usually just waits to be acknowledged, which usually happens soon after I am.

Test 2: Sit politely to be pet

How Finley fared: Thankfully, this is one of Finley’s favorite things to do: accept attention from a new person. And one of the first things we trained her to do is sit when we stop to greet someone or for her to receive attention. And much like test 1, we get to practice this almost every day on our walks outside. She does this successfully, again without “shyness or resentment.”

Test 3: Appearance and grooming

How Finley fared: Although Finley doesn’t require haircuts, we’ve been giving her baths, dremeling her nails, cleaning her ears and brushing her teeth from the very beginning. She certainly doesn’t love the experience of being groomed, but she tolerates it well. As instructed by her breeder, we got her used to having us touch her all over her body, put our hands in her mouth, and examine her ears and eyes. As far as appearances go, Finley is the type of dog who licks herself clean at the end of the day, so she’s always well kept. But for dogs who aren’t inclined to do that, some well-timed treats while you brush and bathe are a good idea.

Test 4: Walk on a loose lead

How Finley fared: Having plenty of experience walking dogs who pull, I was highly motivated to train my own dog to walk politely when we brought her home. Thanks to some great web articles, my husband and I were able to train her in her first year. Part of the AKC test requires doing a right turn, a left turn and an about turn, with at least one stop in between. For a million reasons, these are all part of our daily walks so Finley is more than accustomed to following our sometimes erratic routes.

Test 5: Walk through a crowd

How Finley fared: I’m the type of person who will take my dog with me wherever I’m going, whether it’s the farmers’ market, the park or dog-friendly errands like Home Depot. So while we don’t get tons of practice on crowded city streets, Finley has plenty of experience weaving through people both indoors and out.

Test 6: Sit and down on command, and stay in place

Finley knows how to sit and stay. Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

How Finley fared: For Finley, sit was the easiest command to learn and she does it 100 times a day for us now. But there were times I never thought Finley would learn the down command. She seemed averse to lying on the ground from a standing or sitting position, unless it was to collapse in a heap at the end of the day. But lots of training (and treats!) finally got us there. Getting her to stay was not as difficult as I had feared. Still, she waits politely for her instructions and is always happy-as-can-be when we give her the “ok!”

Test 7: Come when called

How Finley fared: Being a velcro dog, Finley has to be told to “stay” to get further than a few feet from us. This test requires walking 10 feet away from your dog, so I would have Finley sit or go into the down position, then stay while I walked away. Again, she’s vigilantly listening for the “come!” command and more than happy to oblige the mini reunion.

Test 8: React to another dog

How Finley fared: Introducing Finley to other dogs from an early age (after she received all her shots, of course) meant putting her on the path to good canine citizenship. At this point, I’m confident my pup will get along with just about any other dog. This portion of the test involves other dogs and their owners approaching for a greeting but the dogs “should show no more than casual interest in each other.” I’ll be the first to admit, my dog is an enthusiastic butt sniffer. So to make sure she keeps her distance I simply tell her to “sit” and “stay.”

Test 9: React to distraction

How Finley fared: I’d argue that this is a great skill for humans to have as well, but teaching a dog to remain calm during any unexpected noise or movement can be super important. Letting your dog explore the world with you is one great way to do that. Finley has witnessed cars backfiring, bikers whizzing by, and toy basketball hoops crashing down to the ground (thanks to our toddler), all without flinching. It would be difficult to orchestrate such distractions, but thankfully the real world provides plenty of practice.

Test 10: Supervised separation

How Finley fared: If you’re a doting dog parent (like me), you’re familiar with the concept of asking someone to watch your dog or keep her company if you leave the house for more than a few hours. Not only have paid dog sitters watched Finley, but nearly all of our extended family members have as well. For the record, Finley’s separation anxiety has little to do with me or my husband. She loves people — all people— and just wants to hang out with them. In this case, the test requires I go out of sight for three minutes and Finley stay with the trusted handler without panicking or misbehaving. As long as it’s a warm body willing to be next to Finley, she’s good as gold!

Once you’ve mastered the CGC test, there’s no telling what else you and your dog can accomplish. For Finley and me, that might mean some tracking work. My pup loves a good scent and can find treats that we hide around the house for her. Anything to keep her busy and on her best behavior!

Tell us: Is your dog a Canine Good Citizen? Would you try to get your dog to pass the test? Let us know how you did it in the comments, and learn more by visiting the Canine Good Citizen Program website.

Thumbnail: Photography by Whitney C. Harris.

Read more about dog training on Dogster.com:

What to Do to Stop Dog Chewing

7 Ways to Turn Walking the Dog Into a Workout

Why Do Dogs Bark? Reasons Dogs Bark and How to Stop Excessive Dog Barking

The post How Your Dog Can Pass the Canine Good Citizen Test appeared first on Dogster.

[theguardian911]

What Never to Do for Your Melancholic Dog Got a Sad Dog? Try These 5 Strategies to Cheer Up Your Pup By Dr. Becker No one knows for sure whether dogs suffer from depression like people do. They certainly experience mood and behavior changes, but those changes are usually temporary and traceable to a recent event in the dog’s life. Maybe it’s September and the kids are back in school. Or perhaps you’ve added a puppy to the family and your older dog is feeling left out. Dogs who suffer the loss of a family member (human or pet) often go through a grieving period. And of course many dogs relinquished to shelters seem to experience a period of sadness and uncertainty. The problem with diagnosing clinical depression (which is different from short-lived episodes of depressed behavior) is that even in humans, there’s no biological test to identify the condition. Medical doctors take note of symptoms and what the patient tells them about their feelings to arrive at a diagnosis. Since dogs can’t talk to us, we must rely on our powers of observation to determine if a canine companion is feeling down in the dumps. Generally speaking, when a vet or veterinary behaviorist describes a patient as depressed, the dog is displaying a change in normal behavior. Make Sure Your Dog’s Behavior Change Isn’t Signaling a Medical Problem If your dog’s behavior changes, even if you suspect you know why, it’s always a good idea to check in with your veterinarian. Many changes in behavior symptomatic of depression, including lack of appetite, potty accidents in the house, sleeping more than usual, reluctance to exercise and sudden aggressive behavior in a dog who has never shown aggression, can also be signs of any number of underlying medical conditions. If your dog gets a clean bill of health from your veterinarian, there are things you can do to help your depressed pooch cheer up. 5 Tips for Helping a Depressed Dog 1. Keep daily routines as consistent as possible. Pets do best when they know what to expect from one day to the next. Try to keep mealtimes, exercise, walks, playtime, grooming, bedtime and other daily activities on a consistent schedule. 2. Keep your dog’s diet and mealtimes the same and spice up what’s on the menu. It’s important to continue to offer him the same food he’s used to, at the same time each day, but if you find your dog isn’t interested in eating much, consider offering a yummy knucklebone for dessert, or make a tasty treat for training time that he hasn’t had before. Store what he doesn’t eat in the fridge, and offer it to him again at his next regularly scheduled mealtime. Use his hunger to help him get his appetite back by resisting the urge to entice him with unhealthy food toppers. 3. Be careful not to inadvertently reward your dog’s depression. It’s only natural to want to comfort your sad pet, but unfortunately, giving attention to a dog who is displaying an undesirable behavior can reinforce the behavior. Obviously the last thing you want to do is reward a lack of appetite, inactivity or other types of depressed behavior in your dog. Instead, you want to help her over the hump. A better idea is to try to distract her with healthy, fun activities that provide opportunities for positive behavior reinforcement. This can be a walk, short training sessions, a game of fetch, nose work or offering her a food puzzle toy or recreational bone. 4. Give it time. Your dog’s depression may take a few days or even weeks to blow over, but eventually most pets return to their normal lively selves. If at any point you feel your pet is suffering unnecessarily or there is something more going on than a case of the blues, I recommend discussing the situation with your vet or a veterinary behaviorist. 5. Use natural remedies, if needed. There are some excellent homeopathic and Bach flower remedies that can be easily administered to your depressed dog until you see an emotional shift for the better. Some of my favorites include homeopathic Ignatia, Spirit Essences Grouch Remedy or Winter Blues for seasonal affective disorder, several Bach flower remedies including Mustard and Green Hope Farm Grief and Loss. Is Your Dog Depressed Because He’s Being Ignored? When our home or work lives (or both) get very busy and stressful, the family member who most often gets forgotten is the dog. If your canine companion is getting lost in the shuffle of your busy life, it could be the reason he’s blue. Signs your canine companion needs more of your time and attention: • He’s sleeping more than normal. An otherwise healthy young or adult dog who sleeps the day away is bored and in need of physical exercise and playtime, as well as mental stimulation. Try to set aside an hour a day to focus on your dog. Take walks, head to the dog park, go running together or play a lively game of fetch. Also consider enrolling your dog in an obedience class or a canine activity like agility or nose work to keep him mentally challenged. • She’s getting into mischief around the house. If your canine companion suddenly starts relieving herself indoors, it could be a sign she's stressed, but there might also be an underlying health problem, so I recommend a visit to your veterinarian to rule out a medical condition. If she gets a clean bill of health, then it's probably safe to assume she's in need of more of your time and attention. If she's also starting to be destructive or disruptive around the house, it's almost a sure bet she needs more from you. If part of the problem is that she's alone all day while you work, consider hiring a dog walker to take her out for a stroll mid-day. You might also see if there's a doggy daycare in your area where she could spend a few hours a week interacting with other dogs. You'll also want to insure she's getting enough daily exercise and mental stimulation to keep her in balance. Remember, a tired dog is a good dog! • He’s getting fat. Dogs in the wild spend most of their waking hours hunting down their next meal. Dogs in our homes spend most of their awake-time eating what we feed them and looking for a good spot to nap. The result is an epidemic of overweight and obese dogs, and we have no one to blame but ourselves. If you're overfeeding or over-treating your dog as a way to soothe your own guilt over not spending enough time with him, remember that food is a lousy substitute for your time and attention. • She’s disobedient. Dogs naturally want to please their humans, so if your pooch is giving you attitude, it's a good bet you need to spend more time with her. It could be she needs an obedience refresher course, or it's possible you haven't discovered what truly motivates her. Some breeds are more eager to please than others, so if your dog has an independent nature, you'll need to learn how to get her attention. • He’s still not house-trained. While it's true some dogs are easier to house train than others, an adult dog who has frequent accidents indoors isn't getting the time and attention he needs to learn that all peeing and pooping is done outside. Following a very consistent "time for your walk" routine, crate training as necessary and positive behavior reinforcement are the keys to success in housetraining.

[wildlyhardphilosopher-blog]

puppy crate training | training a puppy

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puppy crate training | training a puppy

All Blog Posts Courses On Sale Air Pumps & Airstones Dog Health Care & Feeding The Happy Puppy Site Call Toll Free: 877-985-2695 Such great information, thank you! Our black lab puppy is 11 weeks old, she has been getting up at 3:00 am to pee and 4:00 am to poop. She seems to last a long time after eating before elimination. We feed her dinner at 5:00 & she pees before bed but is up at 4 am to poop. We are hoping to figure this out & have her up only once during the night. Any advise. Love, Obedience, Family 5.0 out of 5 starsExcellent book on how to train your puppy. You may already crate your puppy, or you might be absolutely sure you never will. Some people find it terrible to … Give Monthly A relay is best. Call the puppy to you and give her a treat, then a second person does the same. Weikel added, “The tool they were using was a Wiffle bat that had been modified to cause a snap, you would say, but no harm to the animal. It’s more loud that anything.” Either. Whichever opens soonest. About Contact Advertising Sustainability Subscribe RSS Member Services Terms of Use Privacy Cookie Policy Ad Choices Geico Discount At 16 weeks old – every 2 hours. Precisely balanced nutrition to fight signs of aging in your Adult 7+ dog Kit Cat A quick word of caution: Don’t use a word for your elimination command that gets used at other times. For instance, many people use the words ‘hurry up!’, but if you say this to your spouse when heading late out the door, this could get very messy if your dog hears and reacts. INDIVIDUAL CLASSES Remote Training – Noise (49) Flyball 3 The first day with your new puppy will involve traveling, whether it’s a short distance from the shelter or a local breeder or a long ride in a car or the cabin of a plane. This is the perfect opportunity to start teaching your puppy to love his crate. Be sure it’s well stocked with treats and, if possible, a towel or T-shirt that bears the scent of his mother and littermates. That will go a long way toward making him comfortable in his new surroundings. “I’ve been attempting to house train my puppy for a year and a half without success. Thank you for teaching me how…” more URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DjFMA5ggFsXU When it’s time for a bathroom break, take your puppy outside to the same proper elimination area each time. If he goes to the bathroom within five minutes, praise him and offer treats as soon as he does his business. Diet + Nutrition Avoid getting the puppy over-excited. If he starts biting and doesn’t respond to a squeal (to tell him it hurts) then get up and leave the room. Only return when the puppy is quiet. Alternatively, play in 15 second bursts with a calm-down period of a few seconds in-between, so that he doesn’t lose all control. ©1999-2018 petMD, LLC. All Rights Reserved Uploaded 3 days ago Submit You’re frustrated and you’re starting to believe this dog of yours has taken years off your life. You brought this animal into your family to be a companion, not a constant source of stress, and you’re just plain fed up. AKC VISA Card Shelter to Soldier™Helping veterans & dogs live better lives together Referral ProgramGet 5% by sending a friend and their dog to train with us ServicesCustomized training programs that fit your dog and your lifestyle If you are not home during the day, hire a dog walker to take him out until he has better control of his bladder. I cover how to work with your puppy’s natural instincts, the best way to deal with accidents in the home and how toilet training lays the foundation of your future relationship together. Sponsor a cat Petsho highlights the spray’s ability to remove not only the stain itself but also its odor to discourage pets from using the same area again. Dogs Recommend also speaks highly of Rocco & Roxie’s spray, noting that it lives up to its name by quickly and effectively removing stains and odors.

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fbq('track', 'ViewContent', content_ids: 'dogtraining.dknol', ); Find out which pets are your best… › Problem Solving Post WWII[edit] We encourage anyone with questions to contact our facility and ask for Jack or Colleen at 425-486-9567 to answer any questions you may have.” View as slideshow Home » Dog/Puppy Training PUPPY TREATS Group Pricing Urinary tract infections or other medical concerns can result in potty accidents. If your fully housetrained dog begins to potty in the house, your first stop should be your veterinarian. Physical problems must be ruled out before assuming the problem is a behavioral one. Prior to your visit, assess your dog’s water and food intake so you can report any changes that might be part of the picture. via flickr/wildstray When the dog makes a mistake, gets confused, or does something naughty, the last thing we do is scream at him. You wouldn’t scream at a baby, would you? We address the mistake, but try and combine it with more positive emotions. Humans should give each other the same consideration. For some reason, many adults yell when stressed, and direct that frustration at other people. “I can’t think of a single time where I was stressed out and being yelled at or punished fixed the problem,” says Semel. Even if an employee responsible for your stress, don’t lash out. Benebone Cool Runners (6) Kyle L. Follow Us on Instagram @tlrarf Barb Like this article? Windows 8 desktop, Windows 7, XP & Vista Dog Training News Animal Shelters & Agencies How to House-Train A Puppy: Problem-Solving Our services According to experts at the SPCALA, “Play/training time should be scheduled several times throughout the day.” They also advise walking him again before putting him back in his confined area because playing tends to stimulate a puppy. By training and playing at the same time, you can keep training fun and you’ll teach your puppy that learning and training are enjoyable. Check out more helpful early dog-training tips. Steps for Housetraining Your Puppy Dog Blog Posts Ancient History – Classical Training can be huge fun for both dogs and their owners, so it’s important to go in with an open mind and a positive attitude. No puppy is perfectly well behaved so there’s no need to feel embarrassed if your puppy barks or wees on the floor during a class – these things happen! A: This is done for two reasons. One is so you can track the purchase of the order in your ‘order history’ section as well as being able to let our customer service team track your purchase and the person who received it if the need arises. 3. Be Consistent – stay free from variation. Stay consistent so your puppy knows what you want him to do. Be consistent by taking him out the same door to the same potty spot. Be consistent with your puppy potty schedule. Be consistent with your puppy’s feeding schedule. Be consistent and make sure everyone in your household abides by the same puppy potty training rules. If you do not stay consistent then it will take longer to potty train your puppy. Internal Medicine Lindsay, Steven R. (2000). Handbook of Applied Dog Behavior and Training, Vol 1, Adaptation and Learning, Iowa State Press If your dog will need to travel frequently or be confined when guests visit or at night-time, you could also consider investing in a large transport crate that can be your dogs ‘den’. Somewhere that is safe, cosy but big enough to easily turn around in even when fully grown. Politics Enter the times you will play with, train and exercise your puppy. TranQuil (2) In addition to the Wee-Wee® Pads themselves, you may opt to use the Wee-Wee® Silicone Pad Holder or the Wee-Wee® On Target Trainer™. The former helps to keep the pad from moving around—a definite advantage on a slippery floor. The walls of the On Target Trainer™ help keep your pup from eliminating outside the designated area. Use the Wee-Wee® Puppy Housebreaking Aid with either of these items to help direct your pet to his potty spot.  Bites Sale Snake Care Guide I need to know more! For more information, please contact our staff at 941.729.5665. Dog Training Careers Complete Guide On What Size Dog Crate You Should Get And Which Type Is Best? Artifacts Poodle History of Mathematics 5 star Yelp Reviews 2 Hounds Design (1) Get Dog Savvy Blog Give a Gift …even housebreaking! On day one, you need to establish a regular feeding schedule that you’ll be able to stick with. A consistent eating schedule, with no food between meals, is key to establishing a consistent potty routine. crate training a puppy | tips for potty training crate training a puppy | best way to potty train a dog crate training a puppy | house training an older dog Legal | Sitemap