Top Five Things Your Dog Can Do to Earn Dinner

In my first class with clients, I always tell them that they need to take the dog food out of the bowl and make their dogs’ work for dinner. You paid for the dinner and now your dog should have to earn it with good behavior. What kind of fun tricks and activities can you come up with for your dog’s job for the week? Here are just a few suggestions:

1.    Look At Me Game

Take a piece of kibble and throw it on the floor close to your body. After he eats it and looks up at you, reward him with a YES and throw another piece on the floor. Play this for a few minutes each day and this simple game will teach your dog that looking at you earns him the next piece of dinner. You can start to add a Watch command just before he lifts his head to look at you.

2.    Name Game

Take a piece of kibble and toss it on the floor about 5 feet in front of you. Use the command “GO” and once he eats kibble, call his name. When he returns to you, reward with a piece of kibble from your hand. The game now starts over again with a kibble toss to the floor.  As he becomes better at responding to you, increase the distance of the throw.

3.    Puppy Ping-Pong

This is a simple way to improve your dog’s recall but you will need a helper. Each person will take a handful of kibble and put it in a pocket. Start out in a place with low distractions and stand at a distance of less than ten feet from each other. Practice calling your dog’s name and having him run to you. When he makes it to you, reward with a piece of kibble and then the other person calls the dog. As your dog’s speed increases, you can move to other parts of the house and increase your distance. We slowly increase the distractions and distance as the dog is finding success in responding to his name. The goal is to call the name only once each time and get a quick head turn and dash off to the next person. This game can easily create a tired puppy.

4.    Kong Wobbler

One great product that I highly recommend to clients is called a Kong Wobbler. You can fill this toy with kibble and your dog can to bat it around with a foot or nose to get the food out. This will keep your dog busy as you are trying to cook dinner, watch TV or engage in any non-dog focused activity.

5.    Sit for Attention

What it your dog had to earn his dinner by sitting for any attention? If you have friends over and your dog wants to jump to greet them with a slobbery kiss, it might be better to have them reward with a bit of dinner for a polite sit. If your dog wants to go out the back door then maybe a sit would open the door.  Think of how many pieces of kibble you could give your dog for offering the correct behavior. If we reward a sit, we will get more of them. The reward is simply something that was once free out of a bowl.

Please be sure keep training sessions short- five to ten minutes is plenty and be sure to stop before your dog becomes too tired and is no longer in the game. If your dog is not into his food, even if fed out of your hand, you might want to switch to a food that he enjoys a little more. Get creative and think of fun games that you can play with your dog so that dinners become a little more interesting than just kibble in a bowl.  It should all be about creating a relationship and also a well behaved, polite dog that never assumes that everything in life is free.

Variety Class Field Trip

This week the Variety Class took a field trip to Tuscan Lakes to test our skills walking around the lake with the distractions of birds, bikes, cars, barking dogs and other real life distractions. The dogs were amazing as we successfully did recalls and sit and down stays around the trail. Another great example of having fun with your dog and training good life and social skills.

So you think that you are ready for a puppy?

When do you start training a puppy?

I start puppies in training from the time they enter a home. Canine Connection Training offers clients a free 30 minute consultation so that we can get owners off to the best possible start. Puppies are learning from time they come home so I like to create good behavior and try to redirect the bad behavior so it does not develop into bad habits.  I like to think that my training philosophy is best summed up as: your puppy should not assume that anything good in their life is free. If your puppy wants a toy, he needs to sit and be polite and the toy will be tossed for a fun game of fetch. If your puppy wants to eat, he needs to be calm and quiet and the bowl will be placed on the floor. If she wants to come out of the crate, maybe a sit will open the door. Puppies are capable of learning a great deal at a very young age so start having some fun and build that strong relationship of trust and cooperation. Puppies need to work to get the good things in life.

What kind of learners are dogs?

Dogs are more visual learners rather than verbal. If you are teaching a sit, better to be completely silent, and give a hand signal for a sit (example: treat in hand raised over puppy’s nose and butt goes down on ground). Once your puppy is learning to sit with your visual cue after a few days, you can transition to using a verbal cue such as the word SIT. You would say SIT, just prior to giving hand signal. If you are saying sit multiple times to your puppy, you are just cluttering up the learning process.  Dogs are much better reading our body language than we are at reading theirs. How long does it take for your dog to realize that you are leaving the house?

How do you stop a puppy or dog from jumping?

Dogs learn that jumping up is rewarding from the time that they are little. Many owners tolerate a cute puppy jumping up to say hello. I always start puppies off with a polite sit for any attention. If they have to earn attention with a sit instead of jumping, it becomes an automatic learned behavior and not a bad jumping habit. All your family members and guests need to know the rules prior to entering the house so that they are not reinforcing jumping with attention… positive attention or negative is all the same. If your puppy can’t control her behavior, then she must be on a leash or in the crate until guests come in the door and settle. It is wonderful if we can create situations in which puppies can be successful in learning good behavior.  Invite some friends over to your house to help your puppy learn a polite sit for attention. Always better to be proactive in training your dogs, rather than being reactive. 

Refrigerator Lists?

Think of all the commands that your puppy should know and write them down as a list posted on the refrigerator. If you want your puppy to keep the paws OFF the counter, than the whole family should train that the paws are OFF the counter. If you want to use the word COME, all the family should use the same verbal or visual cue. If your dog knows that ALL doors mean that she needs to look at you to be released to go out, your dog will be happy to oblige.  Dogs love clear and consistent rules that don’t change each day with each person in their lives. If the family decides that the dog is not allowed on beds, then the entire family has to enforce the rule.  You will get an amazing dog if you create rules and boundaries and your dog will feel confident and secure. 

What do I know about dogs?

1. I think that dogs have a natural desire to be with us and create a trusting relationship. Dogs, anxious and nervous about leaving their owners, come to see me and I am always amazed at how quickly they look to establish a relationship with me. Dogs are honest.

2. Dogs have certain characteristics that have been established over decades of selective breeding. If you are looking for a puppy, do your research on the breed. Please do not get a puppy that is less than 8 weeks old. Puppies need to be with their littermates to learn social skills that will be important as they mature. If your energy level is a 3 out of 10, do not get a puppy with a level 9. Most trainers will help clients find a suitable puppy from a quality breeder. A puppy is a huge investment in time and money, so take your time.

3. It is never too early to start training a puppy. Bad habits are learned, so train your puppy not to jump and to work for good things in life. Puppies can learn polite sits for greeting, down and their names, as young as 8 weeks. If we can get this message out, maybe we can save dogs from being placed in shelters because they are wild and out of control and no longer cute little puppies. I highly recommend puppy classes, for training and socialization, prior to six months.

4. Create a list of things that your dog finds rewarding. Does he love to play ball, a belly rub or a favorite treat? Reward the good behavior and you will get more of it. Make your dog work for the things that he loves. I always say that your dog has to work for dinner. You paid for the food and now he needs to work for it!

5. Dogs are social animals so get out each day for some sort of activity. A walk or trip in the car to the bank will do wonders for your dog and help to build that important relationship. The experiences are worth the time and will make both owner and dog just a bit more happy.

6. Dogs love owners who are clear and consistent. Please set out the rules for the house on paper and, if needed, post on the refrigerator. Rules should be the same with all family members and expectations should be clear.

7. A tired dog is a good dog. Trainers rarely get calls from people complaining that their dogs are sleeping too much. A bored dog is a destructive dog, so keep your dog busy. If your dog has to be crated for a few hours, stuff a Kong toy with kibble sealed with cream cheese or peanut butter.

8. Dogs live in the moment. They like to do things that are fun for them. The garbage seemed like the right thing (smelled good and tasted even better) while you were in the shower. Remove all temptations for new dogs in your home until you can establish rules and train that the garbage and counters are off limits. You will need to set up situations and train...be proactive and not reactive.

9. Have fun with your dog and take a class in agility, obedience or training tricks.  There are so many fun things that you can do with your dogs today. Dogs are also needed in providing therapy to children and adults in hospitals, schools and nursing homes. If you are dealing with behavioral problems with your dog, call a trainer before it gets too serious.

10. Above all, I have learned that dogs are a gift to us. I think that this quote says it best. “A person can learn a lot from a dog, even a loopy one like ours. Marley taught me about living each day with unbridled exuberance and joy, about seizing the moment and following your heart. He taught me to appreciate the simple things-a walk in the woods, a fresh snowfall, a nap in a shaft of winter sunlight. And as he grew old and achy, he taught me about optimism in the face of adversity. Mostly, he taught me about friendship and selflessness and, above all else, unwavering loyalty.” John Grogan, Marley and Me

Goal Setting

This is my dog, Em, in 2007, when my evenings and weekends were spent training and showing my own dogs. They were my hobby and my passion and we loved working on adding new skills and improving each week. I am posting this because Em will be 9 years old in December, and I have forgotten how much fun I had working my own dogs. I am setting a goal for this ninth year, and I am hoping that putting it into a blog will force me to keep working on my goal and not put other things ahead of this really important one. Em needs to finish her title in obedience competition...we have one leg and need two more to complete her CD and this will earn her a VCD1 (Versatile Companion Dog 1). She is a talented puppy with titles in tracking, agility, hunting and rally obedience but we have done little competition obedience in the last eight years. I know that if something were to happen to her, I would always regret not completing this goal with her.

Em was a wild looking puppy made every training session fun because she was so happy to work and figure out the game. She has been retired for the last four years as I have taken up training professionally and focused on growing a business. Em and my other dog, Hunter, welcome dogs into my home that are in need of training and structure. I say they are paid in kibble to do nothing but watch and occasionally participate in group sit-stays and come. I think that they like the system of "the new guy has to work" and they just get rewarded for watching and being still. Retired is the perfect word to describe their lives.

Diva Em, once retired, will now have to sing for her supper. I am unsure if she will love the idea of working again. I hope that she will be as committed to this goal as I am in the coming months. I guess this blog will help to keep me honest and chronicle our training journey.

Traveling with Dogs

Traveling with pets can be a stressful time. Insure your vacation stays stress-free and fun with these helpful tips.

Travel by Car:

1.  Bring a collapsible exercise pen with you if you are traveling by car. This will ensure your puppy has a safe and comfortable place to stay, without the worry of him/her getting into the unknown while on the road or in a pet friendly hotel room.  
2.  Make stops every four hours or so for potty and drink breaks. A portable water dish or bottle makes this a breeze. 
3.  Most important—have familiar smells to keep your baby calm. Whether it is an old shirt, shoe or his/her favorite blanket, the smell of home will make any puppy on vacation happy and secure.   

Hotel Stays:

1.  Check online to ensure your hotel destination is pet friendly.
2.  Book on the phone when possible to ensure booking a pet friendly room and getting a person-to-person confirmation. First floor rooms are always best and make for easier potty breaks. 
3. After making sure the hotel allows dogs, make sure it is truly pet friendly. Is there green space near by for potty breaks? How many floors is the hotel—and is there a balcony?

Airline Travel

Your pet’s travel crate should be sturdy and breathable. There are many on the market—but beware! Each airline has their specific pet carrier specifications, so check each airlines web site, and when in doubt call customer service.

There are also companies who take care of the travel for you. Starwood Animal Transport and Animal Transportation are companies that give door-to-door service. Whether your destination is Florida, California, England or India, these companies will take care of vaccinations, immigration papers, cargo tickets and more.

House Rentals

Want a more leisurely vacation—rent a house. Dogs can discover a new home with pet friendly rentals. Sometimes a vacation home can be a more calming environment for you dog instead of the hustle and bustle of a busy hotel. With more room to roam, and less noise to distract your vacation becomes your pet’s vacation!
Helpful links: www.petravel.com, www.dogfriendly.com, www.starwoodanimaltransport.com, www.vrbo.com

10 reasons not to buy a Flexi leash

Flexi leashes are those flimsy, retractable leashes (like a tape measure) that allow a dog to pull ahead 20 feet or so. I don’t know who is encouraging people to buy Flexi leashes, but they are a big problem. If you are considering buying a Flexi leash, it is a bad idea. Here’s why:

1. Flexi leashes are not for big dogs.

I would never buy a Flexi for any dog, especially a dog over 20 pounds. Every day I see people in my neighborhood walking german shepherds, labs and even huskies on Flexis.

2. You can’t control your dog on a Flexi leash.

You just can’t. I had a situation about 15 years ago with my well behaved lab mix, Jack. We were walking on a quiet country road and he was out about 10 feet from me. A car came speeding by and I barely had enough time to reel him into safety. They are a nightmare on narrow pathways as the owner has so little control while bikers and other walkers are passing.  

3. Flexi leashes teach your dog to pull.

The more the dog pulls, the more leash it is given. This is not a great training situation.

4. Flexi leashes cause accidents.

We were out yesterday at the Clear Lake Farmer’s Market and I witnessed three dogs become so entangled on meeting nose-to-nose that the owners had to remove leashes to release dogs. The owners were quite lucky that the dogs were friendly because entangled dogs can sometimes become aggressive and dog fights are common given the situation. What about the biker passing a dog on a Flexi? It is an accident waiting to happen.

5. Flexi leashes put the dog in control.

When the leash is tight, the only way to shorten it is to walk toward the dog. This teaches the dog she doesn’t have to come to you. You will instead come to her.

6. Flexi leashes are unsafe for outside tethering to you or a post.

These “leashes” allow you to stand there while your dog runs around you. If you need to exercise your dog, please find a fenced area where your dog can run and play.  

7. Flexi leashes are awkward to hold.

I’d rather walk, run or bike with my dog without holding onto a big hunk of plastic (that’s what the leash retracts into). The handle part offers little control when your dog is pulling.

8. The dog can easily get away on a Flexi leash.

It doesn’t take much for a dog to pull the leash out of her owner’s hands when she has a 20-foot head start.

9. Flexi leashes are the worst tool to walk your dog with.

In a proper heeling position, a dog should be at her owner’s side on a loose lead. Flexis are always tight and the dog is almost always several feet in front of the owner.

10. Dogs aren’t safe on a Flexi leash.

With that much slack in the leash, they can get hit by a car or bike, bit by another dog or just plain get away. They are a danger to themselves, their owners and others. A safe way to use a Flexi is to exercise their dogs in an area where the dogs will be safe and under control, like out in a quiet field in the country. The safer alternative to a Flexi is to teach your dog to walk on a 4 or 6 ft. leash with a no-pull harness or gentle leader. We have classes at Bayside that deal specifically on walking/heeling, so take some time and have some fun learning some new skills.  

Freedom Harness

Freedom No-Pull Harness

I just came home from a service dog seminar in Austin. The presenter talked about a new style of no-pull harness called the Freedom Harness. The harness works like the Easy-Walk Harness but also can clip in the back between the shoulder blades, giving a little more control. I bought two to try out on my dogs and some of the dogs that I am working and will keep out posted. If I like them, we will be carrying them at Bayside.

I like that they come in many colors....you turquoise fans will love them. I already like the way the included leash can be used a number of different ways. The manufacturer website is  www.wiggleswagswhiskers.com

Valerie's Story

Valerie is an 20 month old lab that just needed a chance. She must have been an adorable puppy bought by a young family with a lack of time to devote to a high energy lab. After 18 months of living in a yard, she was given away to a home in the country for a few weeks and when that did not work out, a kind-hearted woman named Lisa took her into her home.

Lisa contacted me about training for her new silver girl a few days after bringing her into her home. We set up an appointment for an evaluation and some private training. Valerie and Lisa arrived at Bayside and I saw a dog that had no training and seemed to be quite disengaged and made little eye contact. Unlike most first training sessions, we were only able to train a sit and Lisa went home with some instructions on how to stop the wild jumping and biting. We met again the following week and we were able to train a down and worked on the jumping. In this second lesson, there was a break through and Valerie seemed to engaged and was happy to work for the rewards of play, food and praise. It seemed to me that most of her interactions in life with the people around her were negative and she just had learned to entertain herself. We finally had a great place to start her formal training at my house.


Valerie came to live with me for a few weeks on a board and train. She was quick to introduce herself to my dogs, Em and Hunter. They are always good hosts to the strange dogs that I bring into the house. Hunter always loves the girls and he was quick to find a partner to play Catch Me If You Can. There was a long list of behaviors that we needed to correct. She was a counter surfer, jumper, biter for attention, had little door manners, little impulse control, unsure about house training, and did not know how to walk on a leash . She craved attention and love but seemed to engage in bad behavior for attention. We worked on creating a house with clear rules and expections. The rules were the same each day and never changed. Dogs like to know what is expected and need to have a routine. Each day she improved and seemed to like the new experiences like taking a walk, getting a bath, getting nails trimmed and learning to behave politely in the house. Valerie's report card would read like this:


She is a quick learner and works and plays well with her peers. She likes routine and wants to know the expectations of each new task. Valerie likes people and takes new challengers on and tries to do her best. She is motivated by food, play and praise. 


The weeks passed by quickly and we were watching bad habits fade and polite and respectful manners emerge. Valerie visited stores with me and was a model dog offering polite sits for greeting strangers and walking with me up and down the aisles. She attended evening training classes with me and provided demonstrations of exercises for my students.


I am happy to say that she is back in her loving home and they are enjoying a well mannered family dog. Valerie just needed a chance and some training and she became a wonderful dog. I would say that my best advice to puppy owners is to start training as soon as you get a puppy. It is so important to lay a foundation of training (rules and expectations) when they are still young and cute. Please don't let your dog learn that there are counters to surf and garbage to raid. They should be learning that a polite sit gets attention, not the wild jumping. It is sad that the story of Valerie is all too common. The adorable puppy that can do no wrong becomes the wild child that destroys your house and yard and now is a problem.   

Dog with Food Allergies?

I am always looking for the latest research in canine health. Dr. Jean Dodds of http://www.hemopet.org/ has a salivary diagnostic test for food intolerance.  It is a test kit that you can order through her website and send in for analysis. Below is the current information available from her website.




Dr. Jean Dodds will be introducing Nutriscan, a novel, patented food intolerance and canine food sensitivity testing system. This assay system utilizes an important new approach in nutrition - that salivary diagnostics can more accurately identify the foods to be avoided rather than focus on those less like to be reactive.

Dr. Dodds' revolutionary concept is the first food intolerance and sensitivity testing program to match pets with their individual nutritional needs and genetic makeup, i.e. functional nutrition or nutrigenomics. This provides owners with accurate information to select the optimal pet foods and treats based on high level nutritional principles.

Dr. Jean Dodds' new Nutriscan saliva screening diagnostics should be used annually by dog owners. This canine food sensitivity and intolerance diagnostic system tests saliva for food reactant antibodies in healthy dogs and those with known or suspected food intolerance. Dog owners can obtain the test kit from Hemopet or through their veterinarians. After following directions, adding saliva, the kit is sealed and sent to Hemopet for analysis. The Nutriscan canine food sensitivity testing and diagnostic kit is now available.

Testing protocols are for gluten and other food ingredient intolerance and sensitivity. The primary dietary antigens to be tested are corn, wheat, soy, beef, eggs, and milk.

BAD DOG or BORED DOG

Is your dog counter surfing and eating your dinner, grabbing your precious possessions and running, excavating your landscaping or chewing your new furniture? Many people think that their housemates are bad dogs but maybe they are just bored dogs.

A bored dog can become a destructive pet when he's left alone. Leaving your dog with his favorite toys can help him pass the time. Better yet, provide some interactive dog toys that give him something to do – they will challenge him to think and “problem solve” to get what he wants. An active and focused mind means your furniture; shoes and household items won’t get destroyed when you're away from home.

Some dogs are just fine when no one is home; they entertain themselves by sleeping all day. Other dogs want more action in their life whether anyone's home or not. They spend the day chewing, barking, shredding and any other activity they can find to entertain themselves. The problem with letting a dog find something to do on his own is that he ends up getting in trouble once his owner gets home.

Dog toys have come a long way from the simple squeaky toys and rawhide chews that most canines quickly grow tired of. After all, there’s only so many times can you squeak a toy before it gets boring, and once the rawhide chew is gone; it's back to mischief making. If your dog needs something to do to keep him out of trouble, consider toys that can stimulate him and give him something to focus on. What you need are interactive dog toys that require your dog to think if he wants to get to the treat.

Wooden dog puzzles come in a variety of skill levels that can give your dog hours of stimulating problem solving to get to the treats hidden inside. They have to figure out how to slide blocks or pegs to find what they're looking for. Some are harder than others, but all of these dog toys challenge the smartest dogs. One of the harder dog puzzles has four layers that spin. The dog has to rotate the layers to get to pockets that hold his favorite treat.

For dogs who inhale their food, you might want to consider an interactive dog bowl that's designed to slow down how fast they eat. Dogs that wolf down their supper can have digestive problems, and certain dog breeds have a higher risk of developing bloat if they eat too fast. The interactive dog bowl slows down their eating by making them work for their supper in a fun way that stimulates their mind. It also helps your dog learn good eating habits by teaching him to not inhale his food. You can use the interactive dog bowl for treats instead of dog food to keep him entertained and stimulated when you're gone.

Interactive dog toys come in a variety of shapes and sizes. All of them require the dog to use his brain to get to the hidden treats. They are designed to hold up to the dog who likes to chew – but why chew on the outside when there's a treat inside? Figuring how to get the treat out is stimulating and satisfying.

You can also find interactive chew toys for dogs. They can give your dog hours of entertainment as they push, chew, tug or pull on the toy to get the treat. Some are designed to make the dog roll the toy around to get the treats to fall out. Others have the treat in plain sight and the dog has to figure out how to get the food prize out of a pouch.

Treat toys are an excellent way to provide a game of hide-and-seek dog for your dog while you're away. Fill three or four toys with treats and hide them around the house where he can easily find them. When he's finished with one toy, he can search for another one, which helps keep his mind focused on the treats instead of the temptation to destroy your couch cushions.

When buying an interactive treat toy for your dog, make sure to get the appropriate size for them. Puzzle dog toys and interactive games are designed so any size dog can work the pegs or twists and turns they have to maneuver through to get to the treats. If you have a dog that gets into mischief every time you leave the house, providing him with an interactive dog toy can help him beat the boredom of being left alone. Bayside has a wall of great interactive toys to keep your puppy busy and safe, while in his crate waiting for your return.  Please stop in to see our wall of fun toys that will be sure to keep your dog happy and busy while you are away from home.

If your puppy is a bundle of energy when you return from a busy day at work, Bayside also has a group daycare program that might address your puppy’s need for exercise. Socialization, with other dogs and our dedicated staff, will decrease the energy level and also provide a safe environment for your dog to grow and experience positive interactions. A tired puppy is always a good puppy with less behavioral issues. Please check out our website for some additional information about our group program.

Putting your dog into a training program will also alleviate the behavioral issues of a bored dog. A few short five minute training sessions each day will create a happy and tired puppy. The relationship building aspects of training your furry friend will also bring about positive long-term results. Bayside offers a variety of classes in obedience, agility, tricks and other fun activities that will be sure to help you create a well mannered family member. The website, www.bayside-bb.com, will provide greater details about our training programs that can be tailored to meet the needs of you and your dog.

Dogs have become a very special part of our lives and there are many ways to address the problems that arise when we have to leave them to go to work. Stop by or call Bayside Bed & Biscuit and we will turn your bad dog into a model canine citizen. Please remember this quote, “He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart.”

Graduates of Family Manners 1

Graduates of Family Manners I



Last night, we had a successful graduation of Family Manners I. Rosie, Maizee, and Tedi were able to successfully complete the required exercises, proving that they are on their way to becoming canine good citizens.

Door Manners

Does your dog run out the front dog as you open it and then play "can you catch me"? It is one of the most dangerous things that your dog can do and can be fixed if you are clear and consistent in your training of good door manners. This is one of those "Say Please" behaviors. Your dogs should not assume that an open door means pass through and explore the outdoors. To train good door manners, you can use your crate door or your back door and wait for your dog to offer a  sit or make eye contact. The door does not open until Rover offers the correct behavior that you have picked. Training a  release word of OK, FREE, or BREAK, lets them know that they can now move their feet and go outside. Once you have established good door manners at your crate door and back door, it is time to set up some training sessions at the front door with a long line attached to your collar. Rover only makes it out the door if he offers a sit and then gets released out the door with your magic release word.

Door manners is one of the activities that we work on in our Family Manners Class. I feel that it is one of the most important things that can be trained and might be the one thing that could save your dog's life. Setting up rules at the door will also help you in training a good STAY.

Puppy Skills

We had a fun class last night with puppies learning to interact with new things such as a wobble board and an agility tunnel. Puppies were cautious around the new equipment for a few minutes but quickly began running through the tunnel and offering sits on the wobbling board. This kind of positive interaction with new things is very important in a puppy's life. We rewarded the puppies with food and praise for offering to put their feet on new things instead of forcing them onto the equipment. The latest research shows that puppies should have many positive interactions during the first twelve weeks. To find out more, check out the link  www.uvhs.org/behavioral_docs/the_puppys_rules_of_twelve.pdf

Practice Makes Perfect

I frequently get the question from clients asking when their dog will be completely trained. I like to look at training as a life-long process. Our dogs are learning something each time we take them out for a walk. We, as owners, are reinforcing good things or unknowingly reinforcing bad things. We need to be aware that if your dog pulls you over to see their favorite neighborhood friend, your dog has learned to pull you where he wants to go. What if instead you have him wait to be released to go to his friend? The consistant use of a simple "Say PLEASE" philosophy will create a well behaved canine citizen.

Most of us fail to realize that pretty much every day, every interaction with our dog (especially in the first 2 years) is a TRAINING scenario, practicing for the big event when we desperately NEED a recall, for an emergency, to impress someone, or for competition. This means two things: 

 A. We end up testing our dogs on a regular basis rather than setting up a training scenario when we're just hanging out with our dog.

B. We don't reinforce the good behavior frequently enough in everyday real-life situations (where we haven't set up a formal training exercise) to maintain the strength of the dog’s response.  

The following is a list from Ian Dunbar's training blog and I think it does a great job summing up a dog owner's job regarding training responsibilities.

1. If you find yourself in a situation where you’re not sure that your dog will respond to your requests appropriately and right away, manage for safety and success. (And then go back and train until s/he does respond enthusiastically and promptly!)

2. Strengthen your reinforcement value via games, high value rewards, and high reinforcement history. (HIGHER!!) 

3. Practice and heavily reinforce the basics such as sit, down and stay. Don’t take them for granted.

4. Gradually add and increase distractions occasionally in mini, real-life training set ups.

5. Do the above throughout your dog’s life regardless of how well-trained your dog gets.

Remember a having a trained dog is not an end goal but rather a dynamic, ever-changing lifelong process. Practice makes perfect.

Holiday Stress????

Are you feeling a little holiday stress? Dogs also feel stress and can exhibit a multitude of signs. Do you know that dogs can have sweaty paws? Some other signs of stress are the following:

• yawning
• teeth chattering
• lip licking
• will not play with toys or eat
• excessive drooling
• stretching
• excessive shedding
• whining
• cheek puffing
• shallow or fast breathing
• dog freezes, closes the mouth, stillness
• tucked or low tail

Watch your dog's behavior and see how many of the items above you can see as they are exposed to things in their environment. Dogs tell us a great deal and it is up to us to watch and understand their unique language. I think that in many cases, they have learned to read our behavior much better than we read theirs.  

Tracking Class

It was a beautiful Sunday morning as we held our first tracking class at Bayside. Our teams, Pam and Tally and Darcy and Hooper, took to this exciting canine sport like fish to water. Noses were to the ground as they followed a trail of scent through the field behind Bayside. We all loved watching the dogs at work using their innate scenting skills. We will be having more training sessions in the weeks to come. If you and your dog like the outdoors, try tracking!

To Crate or Not To Crate

This time of the year is filled with busy schedules, visiting guests and many new experiences for our dogs. I have so many people ask me how to stop their dogs from counter surfing, jumping on guests or escaping out the door as people are coming in. I think it is a simple solution to rely on your crate for those moments. If you put your dog in the crate and give him a KONG filled with frozen peanut butter or cream cheese just prior to guests arriving, you are essentially setting your dog up for success by preventing unwanted behaviors. Once your guests have settled in and the initial excitement is over, Rover can come out on a leash for some polite greetings. You can have your guests reward Rover with a tiny cookie if he is politely sitting with four feet on the floor. If he jumps up there is no attention given by your guests. He will quickly learn that good things happen when he is sitting not jumping.


The crate should always be a place of good times and can be used if you just need a break from watching an exuberant puppy. It is also a safe spot to escape to when the house becomes too hectic. My male, Hunter, looks for the crate when we have a busy house filled with nieces and nephews. In addition to the stuffed Kong, you can also use a bully stick or dried trachea for a healthy and tasty chewing snack.

Reflections

It is hard to believe that the holidays are upon us already. This is a wonderful time for me to reflect on my first year at Bayside and the programs that we are offering to our furry clients. I have met so many wonderful training teams in the last year and made some really great friends in Texas. The Bayside team has let me further develop as a trainer and supported my programs. I am truly grateful for what I have here in my new home.

Recall Fun

Our recall class went well today. Our students, canine and human, worked hard to create successful and positive practice. The dogs, most of them under a year old, were able to respond to come with a variety of difficult distractions such as toys, other dogs walking and the mesmerizing smell of grass with l'eau d'doggie.