I have recently mentioned my resurgence into the dog obedience and trialing world.

The first time I trialed and showed, I was egged on by my client who challenged me and my dog to an “obedience dare” to see who could title their dog first.  I REALLY, REALLY didn’t want to, but I had help to get her ready for her competitions and she wanted company IN and around the show ring.

I never wanted to trial my dog or get titles, I never cared and was terrified of competition and getting up in front of people.  But the irony of the situation is that the trainer she left me for fashioned herself as a competition training aficionado.

I happily admit I took her up on her dare and not only did I title first, I beat her former trainer   But, for me its not about the competition it is about spending time not only training with my dog but also the short time spent in the ring together!

I intend to get as many titles on my little girl “Fury” as I can!  It is my challenge to myself!

And, my favorite obedience sport, you ask?

Rally Obedience!

Some of the Signs Used

I am proud to admit she got #1 blue ribbon her first time out of the gate with a score of 99 pts!  I let the leash get tight once!  Above is our first place run!

For those of you who aren’t familiar, let me educate you!

Rally Obedience was created by Charles Kramer.

Unlike regular obedience where you must wait for the judge to call out instructions you proceed around a course of designated stations with the dog in heel position.  The course consists of 10-20 signs (depending on the level of advancement) and the signs instruct the team as to what directive to complete.

And, distinct from other obedience sports are allowed and even encouraged to praise and talk to their dogs throughout the course!

THAT is my #1 reason for loving Rally!  Most obedience sports are very cold and absent in the relationship between the dog and the owner/handler.  I personally like to at least be able to praise my dog when he/she does something phenomenal and to keep him/her motivated and happy.

I understand that you should not be able to use training collars, issue corrections, or give treats but I emphatically admit that dogs deserve praise for a job well done!  And, in Rally you can praise, talk to and even clap for your dog when he does something right!

Since I don’t have a judge barking directions at me, I can also relax and stumble about the course on my own without having to worry about listening to someone else.  This allows me to block out everything else that is going on around me.

Fun had by All

And, IT’S FUN!

Even if you don’t compete…Rally obedience is just fun!  And the obedience behind it is functional!  I love the fact that by working on the simple commands on the signs like: Stop (dog should sit) Take one step halt (dog sits) Two steps halt (dog sits) Three steps halt (dog sits) and  Call Dog Front Finish Left halt (dog should come and sit in front then go to heel position and sit on the left side).

And, it’s FAST you are usually in the ring for less than 2-3 minutes!

This is a great sport to get started in with your dog!  It is my favorite way to start!

Look it up online.  Many organizations offer Rally Obedience AKC, APDT, UKC and several others!  You don’t even have to have a pure breed to get out there and have some fun!  You can find more information here.

If you are “on the fence” about competing go to a show and watch, it is so much fun!

A Word of Caution

To those of you who may end up being “die-hard” obedience competitors; be careful about getting use to lots of praise and using your hands and hand signals.  Even if though these are allowed in Rally you don’t want to get into too many bad habits that will be hard to drop when you eventually work your way up or onto another obedience sport!  Do as little and as quiet as possible!

I truly believe that this will strengthen the bond between you and your dog, even if you don’t want to compete, check out the signs and train like you are a competitor!

My Favorite Dog Obedience Sport is a post from: Dog Obedience Training Blog

•  Running through a box tunnel
•  Dancing on her hind legs
• Jumping through a hoop
• Shaking a paw
• And, belly crawling across the floor

You can watch the video here:

It’s impressive, right?

But did you also notice the SILENT commands that Wayne and Annie are using?

For example, when you break it down, you’ll see that to perform the ‘box tunnel trick’, Wayne has trained Annie to:

1. 1.    Leave him
2. 2.    Run to the box
3. 3.    Go THROUGH the box
4. 4.    And return to him

… The commands have been stacked, so that when Wayne says ‘Go To Your Box’ – Annie automatically translates this into FOUR COMMANDS!

And while Wayne still needs to give Annie the ‘Down’ command before he gives the ‘Crawl’ command, if he continues training, it won’t be long before Annie understands that to ‘Crawl’ she must first ‘Down’…

… And Wayne will be able to just say ‘Crawl’.

So now I imagine you’re wondering, “How do I train MY dog to perform tricks like this, with stacked commands?”

It’s far easier than you think…   But you need to start with the basics.

Wayne and Annie began their training using my ‘Hands Off’ Dog Training Course  which taught them both two important lessons:

First, Wayne learned how to train Annie to do ANYTHING by discovering how SHE learned!  

And second, through her training sessions with Wayne, Annie learned HOW to learn!

… So once Wayne understood how to communicate with Annie, and Annie understood how to learn from her Dad, they became an unstoppable team!

Wayne was able to toss aside my training program (gently of course , get creative, and dream up his own trick routines for Annie!

And Annie has been loving every minute of it (as you can see by watching the video), learning new commands and tricks as fast as Wayne can teach them.

So again, start with the basics.

Learn to communicate with your dog effectively.  And teach your dog how to learn.  My ‘Hands Off’ Training Course offers you a step-by-step blueprint, with daily lessons for doing exactly this, so if you don’t already have a copy, I recommend you get one.

Because if you follow this program, and commit to daily training…

… It’s not unreasonable to expect that YOUR dog could be performing basic tricks like dance, shake a paw, roll over, and more, in as little as four weeks.

Until next time, happy training!

–Chet 

P.S.  Oops, I almost forgot:  If you’re a student of my ‘Hands Off’ Training Program and you have a success story or video that you’d like to show off, please send me an email at stars@thedogtrainingsecret.com  I’d love to hear your story, too…

[Video] See Trick Dog ‘Annie’ Perform Her Favorites! is a post from: Dog Obedience Training Blog

But, I hate Christmas shopping!  For some of my family members Christmas shopping is easy, I know their needs and their desires and it is easy to get them the things that they and their families need for the year.

But for some, it is especially difficult!  Even in tough economic times some people really don’t need presents or gifts to set on the shelf and dust or a new hideous seasonal sweater or tie that they will only wear once.

Even when it comes to myself, I sometimes struggle with what to tell others I want or need for the holidays.  So I decided to tell my family to pick from some of my favorite charities and donate in my name or in my honor.

I would much rather have someone donate to help save the Cheetahs, find homes for animals in need, or help needy children rather than send me a hideous sweater or something that needs constant dusting (or in my house “de-furring).

So I figured I would make a plea to you.  For those of you who have those hard to buy for family members please find a charity to make a donation to in their name in honor of the holiday season.

Things to keep an eye out for?

Guide and Service Dog Organizations are Another Great Choice

Charities that are 501(c)(3)s have to jump through hoops in order to get that status and they have to answer to the Internal Revenue Service.

It also means that monies and expenses are made public so you can see exactly where your money is being spent.

Obtaining the status is not easy and also means that your donation is tax deductible.

Not all charities are 501(c)(3)s but this is one of the critical facets I look for before I donate.

With the life money and times being tight, charities and their employees are struggling, so if you can I suggest you share some Christmas cheer!

Some of My Favorite Charities?

White Oak Conservation Center (this is where I worked with Cheetahs), and I know they do fabulous work!  Simply amazing animals and people!

I have Belgian Malinois and a Dutch Shepherd so I love those rescues and Weimaraner Rescue  is close to my heart, along with the Big Dog Rescue Ranch.

And, I love P90X and Tony Horton so the charity close to his heart, the Go Campaign that helps children and the RED Campaign to end AIDS are also a favorite.

Some of My Favorite "People" on Earth! I LOVE Cheetahs!

Certainly, you don’t have to support the charities that I hold dear, but do some research and find your own.  Decide what you love or what the person you are donating in the honor of loves and find something that supports your cause!

And, if you can’t donate financially, just go to your local shelter or rescue and spend some time petting the animals and soothing them in their time of need.  Animals are so easy to love and cheer up!

But, whatever you do get out there and spread some kindness and some cheer this holiday season!  And, if you work for a charity feel free to tell us about it and add a link!  Lets change the world together!

Spreading the Holiday Spirit is a post from: Dog Obedience Training Blog

We Should all Look so Cool While Walking our Dogs!

There is no such thing as a magical leash, unfortunately.  You cannot simply hook your dog or your puppy up to a leash and expect miracles to happen.  My life would be a lot easier and more profitable if there were such an attachment.

I think when people get a dog they want to slap a leash on and go for a walk, but instead there begins a tug of war usually with the dog winning; and the person and the dog end up totally frustrated and truly unsatisfied with the whole experience.

The problem is that we, as dog owners, don’t take the time or don’t understand that we need to TEACH our dogs what we want and what our expectations are for them when they are on a leash.

As I read through comments to a recent article “Weaning Yourself and Your Dog from Compulsion Dog Training Collars”  and I kept finding myself responding by saying “TEACH your dog what you want” I realized maybe people just don’t understand what I mean or how to do it.

So these are going to be very much back to basics articles.

It is my opinion, from what I see, that we expect to have to teach our dogs to sit, lay down, stay and other various commands but what effort do we put into teaching them about their leashes and what our expectations of them are while they are on it? 

Often people take their dog out for a walk with a specific destination in mind, their dog pulls, then they slap on a training collar (choke chain, pinch collar etc.) and they see a brief improvement so they think they are “training” their dog; only to find out that in a few days or weeks that their dog hasn’t actually learned anything except possibly how to behave when the collar is strapped on and that is only if they are lucky.  Many dogs just grit through the pain or the choke of it all and plug along as if this was the way walking and being out on a leash was meant to be…  This pulling and choking can cause serious injury to the dog’s trachea and even more grim injury to their relationship with their owner.

I am here to tell you, this is not how this should or has to go if you want an obedient and reliable dog.

You wouldn’t toss a book into your child’s crib and expect him to learn how to read with no instruction would you?

Learning how to act and react on a leash is just as important to you and your dog’s life and development as learning how to read is for your child!  He will rely on this foundation for his whole lifetime, or he will be banished to the house and a life of seclusion and isolation because you can’t take him out.

The Problems

Teach Me What You Want

The first thing to do is to identify the problems with this type of training and the flaws in thinking when it comes to your dog and his ability to be successful.

You Pick up the Leash and have a Destination to Walk to.

You are not taking into account everything your dog needs to learn.

First, you will be unsatisfied if you don’t make it to your destination and chances are, if you have one in mind, you won’t make it there without severe pulling.

Training starts at home inside your home.

Once your dog has learned, inside, some basics you can take him outside you home in your yard when there are little to no distractions.

Again, your dog cannot learn to his maximum ability when there are lots of distractions around and dogs must learn in several environments to be victorious in all environments.

That means you may have to teach him the same thing in the kitchen, in the backyard, in the front yard and out on the street, etc. going back to square one and teaching him in all of these places first!

When I trained Service Dogs for adults and children with disabilities we taught them to retrieve at home first.  THEN we had to take them out in public and go back to square one to TEACH them that the command was the same everywhere.  Were they just being belligerent by not adhering to the same command out in public?  NO!  They had to understand that the command was the same no matter where we were or what was going on!

Think like a dog; you are expecting your dog to ignore all of the neighbors, new smells, neighborhood dogs, and other animals around him and still LEARN what you want.  Not to mention the sounds and everything else that is exciting that might be going on!

Would you take a new dog or a puppy to a dog park and expect to “teach” him to sit or lay down?

Dogs don’t “learn” around these types of distractions.  Teaching your dog to walk on a leash and having a destination in mind is setting your dog and you up for extreme failure and sometimes frustration and anger.

Learning starts at home!

OUCH!

You get Frustrated and Slap on a Dog Training Collar

These collars may seem to work at first.  Sure, your dog feels and hears the zip of the choke (or check) chain as it zips up the collar and towards his neck and he feels the discomfort of the choke so he may stop pulling.  Most dogs only stop for a short time but then continue choking themselves until they are almost out of air.

He feels the pinch of the prong collar and it hurts and is uncomfortable so he stops pulling, for a while.  Then when he is ignoring that you are instructed to yank on said pinch collar, YIKES and you are forced to use compulsion!

He feels the pull of the Gentle Leader from behind his head and he stops pulling forward, for a bit.  He might then learn to lower his head and pull with his whole body.

But what have you taught him?

You have taught him nothing, the collar has given him some information about consequences when the collar is on but chances are you haven’t praised him or rewarded him in heel position or given the appropriate information to him so that he knows what you want.  You yank, snap and pull and his neck slowly becomes desensitized to any type of stimulation.

Training collars become a crutch and who needs a crutch when good diligent dog training will give him the information he desires.  Dogs with desensitized necks are harder to work with because they have learned to physically and emotionally check out to pain and stimulation.

I once saw a police dog that had been severely shocked by an electric collar, but he had learned to simply fight through the pain.  No positive reinforcement was used and very little information given.  Eventually, the collar turned up as high as it could go did absolutely nothing to him and he was released from the police department.

His neck was totally physically desensitized and emotionally he turned off while training!  The only hope for him was to totally retrain him with positive reinforcement and slowly begin to teach him to trust emotionally and learn to feel things again physically.

You Must be More Rewarding

Bet this is More Exciting than a Squirrel for Some Dogs!

The biggest problem is that you have to be more rewarding and exciting than anything else going on around him.

Squirrel runs past, better hope you are more rewarding and he wants to please you more than he wants to chase that squirrel!

You need to build a strong foundation and often times that is not a quick fix!  A firm foundation in positive reinforcement and learning takes time.  You might have to work for several weeks or more before you can take your dog for a short walk.

Remember the parable about the house that is built upon the sand, and the one built upon the rock.

Think of it this way, if you are relying on training collars and little to no training, praise and fun your foundation will crumble at any given moment.

If, however, you teach your dog what you want at home, then take him outside and teach him more of the same, you have fun together, you are exciting and your dog is listening 95% of the time to all of your commands then your foundation is probably strong enough to weather the storms of a short walk and real life!

These are just a few of the reasons that people are unsuccessful and frustrated when it comes to teaching their dog to listen to them while they are on a leash.

Always try to look at it from your dog’s point of view and dare, if you will to understand how unrealistic your expectations of him have been!

So, now the question is how do you get your dog to listen to you, respect the leash, and enjoy walking together?

Well, that my friends will be in my next article!  Keep your eyes out and I will outline for you some ways to TEACH your dog what you want while he is on a leash!

The Premise of the Magical Dog Leash is a post from: Dog Obedience Training Blog

Rescued dogs are HAPPY dogs!

I LOVE animal rescues, at least most of them!  Most animal rescues have the animal’s best interests in mind and are run effectively and by good and loving people.

I have spent a good portion of my career working with numerous animal rescues and getting to know just what is involved in the processes that they deal with daily!

When I hear people complain about adoption fees, my whole body cringes.  I wish that the average person or naysayer had to spend just a week watching the intricacies involved in animal rescue.

Did you know that some rescues, fully anesthetize spay or neuter, and clean teeth of older dogs that are in need?  Good rescues also make sure their animals are vaccinated, heartworm negative, and not in need of regular medication.   Thousands of dollars are spent on dogs that need surgeries, or heartworm treatment.   They don’t charge $1,500 for the 10 year old dog that went through treatment, so they have to make up some of the differences for their compassion in other places.

These rescue workers scour dog shelters to rescue dogs on the last days of their lives.  If not for these rescues, hundreds of thousands of dogs would be euthanized!

Most rescuers work FULL TIME to fund their rescues as there is really no money offered in saving animals! 

The amount of money these rescues save the new owners is not even close to the minimal amount that they charge to find a good home.

Most rescues only charge to ensure that people are willing and able to pay.  If $100 or $300 or whatever the adoption fee is, is too much for the prospective new owner how can that person expect to pay for dog food, toys, or an emergency vet visit?

And, most of the hoops they make people jump through are to ensure that their dogs go to forever homes and do not end up back in their care, or worse at an animal shelter or testing facility.

Yes, unfortunately there are sick people out there that adopt animals and then sell them to animal testing facilities or use them for dog fighting.  But the application process and home visits usually deters the sickos and better ensures the safety of the dogs that they love and are placing.

What I Really Love About Rescues?

Most rescues house their dogs in REAL homes.  They don’t have a large kennel where the dogs are left day and night, and so these dogs live with people and families.

Rescues Pay for Medical Treatment

Why does that matter to you?

Because real people know the best environment for certain dogs.  These foster families know if the dog is good with children or cats because they are living in an environment with kids and cats.

Foster families know how much exercise certain dogs need, or if the dog would prefer to be a couch potato and sleep under the covers with their new owner.

They get an idea of what the dog is good at or scared of and what the temperament of the dog is.

People say “Foster families can lie about the dogs in their care because they want to get them adopted” and whereas that can certainly be true it is not usually the case.  Most foster families don’t want to see the dog returned so they try FOR THE DOG to find him or her just the right living scenario.

I have cats, and so I know the fear of bringing an adult dog into my house.  It is much easier to contact a rescue and tell them I only want a dog that has been tested with and has been successful living with cats.

I would also want this assurance if I had small children!

Most people are better suited to integrating an adult dog into their already busy lives.  So rescues take the pain and unknown out of the situation.

That is not to say that you let your guard down when the dog comes home!  I would never bring a dog in and turn it loose with my cats or children “hoping” the foster family was right.  But it certainly eases my mind if I know the dog has lived in a similar scenario!

It also takes away the factor that ruins most dog/human relationships; which is simply based on looks.  We see a picture of a dog and “fall in love” we think at first we don’t care what the personality of the dog is we just love how “cute” he is or how “fuzzy” or how much he looks like our last dog; when this shallow factor should be eliminated completely to help us find a successful relationship!

Yes, it is true you can still pick the dog rescue by breed and by general looks.  In most cases, the rescue will still be selecting the dog that it thinks best suits you, not the one with the prettiest fur.

There are also plenty of mixed breed rescues out there for those of you who love the personality and style of your mutts!

Another Best Reason?

The World would be a Sad Place without Rescues!

A rescue will take the dog back if you deem he is not the right fit for you and your family, and that promise usually lasts a lifetime.

Most rescues would rather take a dog that has been successfully homed for the past 5 years back than have it go somewhere else or to a shelter.

I don’t believe that animals are disposable, but I also haven’t had a huge traumatic event in my life so I try not to judge.  If I lost my home or had to move overseas this would be a good thing to know.

So if you are looking to add a furry face to your montage I suggest you do your homework and employ the help of a good rescue, you are almost guaranteed to succeed!  You can’t get that anywhere else!

Why Rescues Make One of the Best Resources When Looking for a New Furry Companion is a post from: Dog Obedience Training Blog

If you didn’t already know, each month I award $100 petsmart giftcard to the client who sends me the best video of how their dog turns out AFTER using the techniques I teach in one of my programs.

If you’d like to compete against this video and try to win the $100 petsmart gift card here’s a hint… shoot a video of your dog ‘Misbehaving’ BEFORE you do any training with your dog, so I can see just how badly behaved they were.  Then shoot a second video of how much progress you’ve made AFTER you start to see results (it usually only takes a few days)!

Oh, and one more thing…

You do have to have purchased at least one of my programs to participate in the contest, like my Hands Off Dog Training program,  my Teaching Dogs House Manners program, or my program on calming down your dogs emotions.

So if you’d like to get a little reward for implementing a training technique you’ve learned from one of my programs… plus end up with a better behaved dog & $100 to spoil them with grab a camera and start training.

I’m looking forward to seeing your footage.

Success Story From A Client is a post from: Dog Obedience Training Blog

Not All Dogs want to Wear Wings and Shades at Mardis Gras!

I hate to admit it, but all dogs have limitations.  I would like to tell you that ALL dogs can do ALL things, but it’s just not true!!   Just like I will never be a professional dancer (I trip over my own feet sometimes…  often… ) some dogs just don’t have the genetics to do what we want them to.

Limitations come in all shapes and sizes, first there are the limitations that specific breeds bring.

All breeds of dog have been purposely bred for a purpose and most of them fit within a certain category.  The AKC has numerous categories that I usually use:   Herding, Working, Toy, Non- sporting, Hound, Terrier, and Sporting breeds.  Wikipedia breaks them down even further.

Certain breeds are bred for specific jobs: i.e. herding dogs have been bred to help farmers and ranchers herd their stock.  Their instincts for controlled chasing and herding have been modified and tailored to help farmers and ranchers.  Generalization due to breed is usually fairly acceptable and reliable; it would be difficult if not impossible to convince a Bassett Hound or a Chihuahua to safely herd a group of stock. It’s just not a reasonable expectation.

When looking for a dog it is superlative to do some research before you add a new dog as a member of your family!  Breed generalizations and their instincts will assist you in picking “your” perfect dog!

Just like there are breed specific limitations, sometimes there are individual limitations.  Not all Border Collies are capable of herding, not all Greyhounds want to race, and not all Sporting Dogs are capable of hunting.  I once worked with a Labrador Retriever that loved and performed fantastic protection work, but certainly not all Labs have a desire to do bite-work.

Likewise I have seen herding dogs that can hunt, and terriers that herd.  Some individual dogs show an incredible ability to break all the rules and stereotypes.  However one dog’s abilities should not promote the breed toward a certain task.  Similarly one or a few dog’s disabilities should not condemn them or their breed.

I believe that each dog should first be assessed taking into account their breed, the breed standards (what task that breed has been bred for hundreds of years to execute) but should also be treated as an individual for the specific behaviors that he shows.

So many times, as a dog trainer, I counsel with owners who got a puppy for a specific purpose that he is unable to fulfill.  This unfulfillment  leads to feelings of defeat and sometimes anger and sometimes the relinquishment of the dog to a shelter or another home.

Most of us don’t need true “working dogs” and thankfully those that do, know how to find them and select them.   And, if a person truly needs a working dog I advocate finding another home for the one they are unhappy with to ensure that both the person and the dog’s needs are met.

But, in most cases I think we need to celebrate our dog’s individuality and find their strengths!

I currently have 3 dogs at my house, each selected for different jobs or aspirations I had prior to getting them as puppies but so far none has met their purpose.

I have always told myself that if the pup did not reach its potential for what I was looking for I would send it back and find another, but I guess I am a sucker or I have a big heart, whichever you like, because the moment I lay eyes on my new pup I can’t imagine getting rid of it.  Some tell me this is a weakness, but I am not so sure.

I knew within moments of meeting my oldest and youngest dog that their personality was not correct for the job, but I was in love!  If I had sent back my 11 and a half year old Malinois, I would likely have lost the greatest furry love of my life!  No matter what I did I couldn’t change his personality and some of his feelings about life (and I certainly tried), but I did learn to love him for who he is and not who I wanted him to be.

I suppose it is like having children; you may want them to grow up and be doctors but they might have different ideas on what they want to be!

Sociability with My Family is All that Really Matters to Me!

I work in a world full of dogs and peers and peers who buy dogs to compete, show and breed, and although I sometimes envy their ability to know what they want and not concede to have anything less, ultimately I feel sorry for anyone who is too superficial to get to know love and respect the animal they have and find other strengths and activities to share together.

Now, don’t misunderstand me I know that not all dogs are right for all families or situations and those dogs should be given happiness in a good and safe environment.  I also know that some people’s business revolves around having the right dogs, and their dogs are not pets, and I can respect that.

It is my weakness, or my heart that will undoubtedly keep me from the annals of national dog training competitions, but on the flipside I get to know and experience my furry family members for who they are!   It also stretches me to find out what THEY desire to do.  I can push them within their limitations through positive reinforcement, socialization and training,  but I cannot change who they are and what their genetics tell them to do.

My oldest dog “Nix” had no desire to be the Service Dog  I had wanted him to be; he has always been leery of people  and years of socialization, obedience and prayers could not change him into the social dog I had dreamed of.  However, he had a marvelous aptitude for socializing and temperament testing dogs for play groups, and playing with dogs with disabilities, and rehabilitating dogs with dog aggression.  He also is a phenomenal herder and has raised a number of abandoned animals from kittens to squirrels to raccoons.  I love him now for who he is and not who I desperately wanted him to be.

My other two are too young to know for sure what is in their future.  One has terrible allergies that inhibit her from Service Dog work and also hamper her ability to do strong, deep grip work.  Right now we are considering some obedience and/or agility titles if we can learn to keep her allergies at bay.  But we also allow her to work on her grip, even though she will probably never attain a title.

And, my youngest who was purchased to do competition PSA work is a bit spooky and skittish and has been from the day we took him home.  He undoubtedly will not develop into the strong nerved dog we had hoped for; although he is still maturing and there is a small chance he will totally mature out of this phase!  We will continue to allow him to do the work he enjoys and try and discover what his natural talents are.

I will not love either of them less if they never bring home blue ribbons and titles!

Dogs are like people, we don’t all flourish at the same tasks, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t good at other things!

Get to know your dog, you can stretch and extend his limitations through socialization and training but allow him or her to be an individual.  Be kind and be caring and encourage the development of confidence in your dog during his journey and you just may discover some new challenges and pleasure together along the way!

Recognizing Your Dog’s Limits is a post from: Dog Obedience Training Blog

In just 14 pages, it covers the 7 most common fear and phobia triggers in dogs while explaining how to reduce and even cure your dog’s anxiety with a simple, but strategic multi-step plan.

Download your free copy of “The Dog Anxiety Cure” here:

http://www.thedogtrainingsecret.com/Dog_Anxiety_Report.pdf

And then tell me what you think in the comments area below:

What’s your dog afraid of?

What mistakes have you made along the way…?

And what are you going to do differently now to help your dog live with greater confidence

Get Your FREE Report Here – “The Dog Anxiety Cure” is a post from: Dog Obedience Training Blog

Links To Stuff I Mentioned In Video:
http://www.thedogtrainingsecret.com/carsick (Use keyword ‘Easy Travel Solution’)
http://www.thedogtrainingsecret.com/seatbelt

Dog car Sickness Cures (Video) is a post from: Dog Obedience Training Blog

Ahhh Vacation!

As I write this, I should be packing!  We are taking a 17 hour drive tomorrow to the U.P. of Michigan!  So that got me to thinking, maybe I should include an article about traveling with your pet.  As you know, if you are familiar with my articles, I never travel without my dogs!

However, before you make plans, ask yourself if your dog will be happy and comfortable traveling with you!  Some dogs would prefer to stay home!  Not all dogs enjoy a car ride or an adventure far from home.  If your dog would rather stay home you can look into the options of leaving your dog with:

• Family
• Friends
• Or a Pet Sitter (some will come and stay at your home)

And, although it is not my favorite option, some dogs do fine in a clean, well run boarding kennel.  Just make sure you check out the kennel to ensure it is up to your standards.  My recommendation is that you stop in at their busiest time unannounced (don’t make an appointment) so that you can guarantee it is clean even when they are busy and not expecting a tour.  I prefer a busy Saturday morning.  If they won’t give you a tour when you stop by, I probably wouldn’t leave my pet there!

Plan Ahead

Your dog his comfort and his safety requires as much planning and preparation as your own!  If you will be staying in motels call to check and see if dogs his size are allowed; some motel/hotel chains will accept dogs in crates or carriers that would not otherwise accept dogs.

By Car

My Dogs using each other as pillows!

• His shot record, you are required by law to have a shot record if you travel across state lines
• If you are planning a car trip, pack appropriately!  Your dog will need
• A seatbelt or carrier to ensure his safety (this is the law in FL)
• A leash
• A collar with current information tags
• Make sure all microchip information is up to date
• A harness or martingale, some type of collar he can’t slip out of
• Plenty of food and Water (enough to last the trip) especially if on prescription dog food
• Water from your home may lessen his chance for tummy upset
• Food and Water Bowls
• Any medications he may be taking, or may need
• Toys (he will need to play and entertain himself!)
• Chewies (he may need things to do to entertain himself in a new or boring environment)
• Treats
• His crate
• His dog bed
• His Clicker!  You can always train, even when you are on the road!

Make sure that you plan to stop and take breaks at least every 2 hours.  Your dog will need to stretch his legs, potty and get a drink every few hours.  He may also need exercise and mental stimulation if he is cooped up in a car for a long period of time.

Never leave him in the car when it is hot.  The heat can rise rapidly and can kill dogs in a matter of minutes!  If you must leave him, leave the car running for a short time while you run in and take care of your needs!

When You Arrive

Make sure you try and make his environment as close to home as possible.  This is why traveling with his crate(his home), his bed and his toys is so very important.  This semblance of normalcy can help him adapt quicker to his new environment and ensure his happiness when he travels.

Keep his schedule as close to normal as possible.  Feed him, walk him and try to spend as much time with him as you normally would, if not more!

He will need something to do to entertain himself.  So I like to train my dogs and exercise them a lot when I travel.  Exercise guarantees that they are tired when I leave them in someone else’s home and keeps them out of trouble.  I also like to take bones, rawhides and other chew toys to give them something to do if they have to stay home.

Traveling with your pet can be fun and rewarding, but it is also a lot of work!  So, make sure you are all going to have a good time traveling together and take the right precautions so that everyone has a fun and memorable time!

Traveling with Your Dog is a post from: Dog Obedience Training Blog