Filed under: Animal nutrition, California Dreaming, Dog Behavior, Dog Camp, Dog Day Care, Dog Daycare, Dog Training, Dog auction, Environmental Enrichment, Heidi the dog, Nebraska Dog Daycare, Nebraska dog trainer, Nebraska dog training, Omaha Dog Trainer, Omaha Dog Whisperer, Puppy training, Sandi Hansen, Sandi's K9 Management, Zuke's, animal behavior, dog health, dog psychology, dog rehabilitation, dog socialization, dog treats, nutritious dog treats, omaha dog daycare, positive dog training
Heidi asked me to get on here and let you all know about her favorite treats called Zuke’s Mini Naturals. She takes them on every job she gets, and I usually keep them in my training bag. After working with dogs throughout my entire life, I can tell you that these treats are by far the easiest and most palatable of any I have encountered so far. Their small size makes them a quick bite for a learning situation while their healthy ingredients and lack of unwanted fats and preservatives makes them a healthy alternative to most treats on the market today. Not to mention, they are made right here in the USA! They can be kind of hard to locate, so I have listed some on Ebay so you can try them out (or rather, your dog can try them out!). Unfortunately, I don’t have many to sell … BUT my prices are very competitive. Take a look…
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250214877911
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=250214876863&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=015
A man wrote a letter to a small hotel in a midwestern town of which he planned to visit.
He wrote, “I would very much like to bring my dog with me. He is well groomed and very well behaved. Would you be willing to permit me to keep him in my room with me at night?”
An immediate reply came from the hotel owner, who said, “I’ve been operating this hotel for many years. In all that time, I’ve never had a dog steal towels, bedclothes, silverware or pictures off the walls. I’ve never had to evict a dog in the middle of the night for being drunk and disorderly. And I’ve never had a dog run out on a hotel bill. Yes, indeed, your dog is welcome at my hotel, and if your dog will vouch for you, you’re welcome to stay here, too!”
Filed under: Animal Communication, Dog Behavior, Dog Training, Dog training associations, Dogs, Nebraska dog trainer, Nebraska dog training, Omaha Dog Trainer, Omaha Dog Whisperer, Puppy training, Sandi Hansen, Sandi's K9 Management, animal behavior, barking, chewing, digging, dog psychology, dog rehabilitation, dog socialization, dog training school, kids and dogs, positive dog training
Finding the best dog trainer for you and your dog can be as challenging as training the dog himself. These tips will help to ease the frustration of finding the right trainer:
1. Get a referral from a friend who has taken a class or worked in private training sessions with the trainer. Get a referral from a veterinarian. Ask for references from past clients.
2. Don’t assume that just because a trainer belongs to an organization or graduated from a dog training college that they can help you with your dog. There are unfortunately, several organizations and training schools out there that are not up to date on the newest methods of training. Find a trainer who uses a positive approach and keeps up to date on current training techniques. Ask how many different breeds the trainer has experience living with and working with. Steer clear of those who have only ever lived with one or two different breeds.
3. Look for treats and toys being used as rewards during the training. Avoid trainers who refuse to use food as a training reward. Food is a powerful positive training tool that works with most dogs. It also makes training and learning fun. With that said, make sure that the trainer shows you how to get away from using food rewards once the dog has learned a new command.
4. Beware of the trainer who offers a guarantee. That is a red flag that the trainer doesn’t understand the complexities of a dog’s behavior and individual needs. Each individual dog has a different learning style and a different rate of learning. Look instead for a trainer who is willing to work a little bit extra with you if you or your dog are not quite getting the hang of things. Don’t work with a trainer who you are afraid to ask for extra help from.
5. Stay away from trainers who insist you use a choke chain or prong collar or a head collar. There are still many “positive trainers” out there who believe that a head collar is a positive training tool, when in fact it is no less cruel than the chains or prongs/pinches. Shock collars should be avoided at all costs. Most trainers out there unfortunately do not understand how to properly use a training tool. Sadly, they then show you how to use the tool but not how to transition to not using it. Hence, you are stuck using an inhumane device on your dog for his lifetime, leaving both of you uncomfortable.
There are great trainers out there… you just need to know how to find them and what to look for!
All rights reserved. Sandi’s K9 Management. Sandi Hansen. 2008
Filed under: Dog Behavior, Dog Day Care, Dog Daycare, Nebraska Dog Day Care, Nebraska Dog Daycare, Omaha Dog Boarding, Omaha Dog Trainer, Omaha Dog Whisperer, Sandi Hansen, Sandi's K9 Management, dog socialization, omaha dog daycare
If you are thinking about enrolling your adult dog or puppy in a dog day care, here are a few suggestions for important details to look for and to be aware of:
Socialization
Getting your dog around as many well-socialized adult dogs as you can find is one of the most important parts of raising a behaviorally healthy animal. This is extremely important for the mental well-being of the dog in order for him to continue learning proper body language for safe interactions with other dogs. Playgroups are great, but dog daycamp is even better! Finding a day care that offers off-leash play with well-behaved adult dogs is a must.
Exercise
Wouldn’t it be nice to come home to calm and relaxed dog? Typically after a long day of work, most people are exhausted and would like to rest once they are home. That doesn’t always work out when you have a dog in the household! Sending him off to dog day care is a sure way to provide your dog with the exercise he needs to fulfill his energy level. A day care where your dog is offered many opportunities to engage in physical activities throughout the day is important.
Manners
I’ve actually seen dogs who attend day care develop bad habits from not being positively reinforced throughout the day. Finding a day care where your dog’s manners are reinforced so that no bad habits develop along the way is something that most people don’t think about when looking for a day care for their dog. Although it can be hard to find, look for a day care where positive training and reinforcement is stressed, and an environment where your dog will actually have fun learning various tricks and commands!Taking these tips into account when looking for a dog day care will help to ensure that your dog develops into a behaviorally healthy companion!
All rights reserved. Sandi Hansen. Sandi’s K9 Management. 2008
Filed under: Affenpinscher, Afghan Hound, Airedale Terrier, Akita, Alaskan Malamute, American Eskimo, American Foxhound, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Water Spaniel, Anatolian Shepherd Dog, Animal Communication, Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Shepherd, Australian Terrier, Basenji, Bassett Hound, Beagle, Bearded Collie, Bedlington Terrier, Belgian Malinois, Belgian Sheepdog, Belgian Turvuren, Bernese Mountain Dog, Bichon Frise, Black Lab, Black Russian Terrier, Black and Tan Coonhound, Bloodhound, Border Collie, Border Terrier, Borzoi, Boston Terrier, Bouvier des Flandres, Boxer, Briard, Brittany, Brussells Griffon, Brussels Griffon, Bull Terrier, Bulldog, Bullmastiff, Cairn Terrier, Canaan Dog, Cardigan Welsch Corgi, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Chihuahua, Chinese Crested, Chinese Sharpei, Chow Chow, Christmas puppies, Clumber Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel, Collie, Curly Coated Retriever, Dachshund, Dalmation, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Doberman Pinscher, Dog Behavior, Dog Training, Dog training associations, Dogs, Environmental Enrichment, Finnish Spitz, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Goldendoodle, Gordon Setter, Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, HSUS, Harrier, Havanese, Italian Greyhound, Japanese Chin, Keeshond, Kuvasz, Labradoodle, Labrador Retriever, Leonberger, Nebraska dog trainer, Nebraska dog training, Newfoundland, Norweigan Elkhound, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Omaha Dog Trainer, Omaha Dog Whisperer, Otterhound, Papillon, Pekingese, Pekingnese, Poodle, Puppy training, Rottweiler, Saluki, Samoyed, Sandi Hansen, Sandi's K9 Management, Shar pei, Sharpei, Sheltie, Shitzu, Siberian Husky, Tamar Gellar, West Highland Terrier, Westie, Whippet, Yorkie, Yorkshire Terrier, american humane, animal behavior, barking, buying a puppy, dog health, dog psychology, dog socialization, humane society of the united states, omaha dog daycare, petstore puppy, pit bull, positive dog training, rat terrier
So you got that Christmas puppy after all? Hmmmm. Well, since he is with you now… what is your next step to turning this little guy into a well-behaved adult dog? This will quickly sum up a few quick tips that I get questions about every day.
- The first thing I suggest is to get that puppy around as many well-socialized adult dogs as you can find. This is extremely important for the mental well-being of the pup in order for him to continue learning proper body language. Playgroups are great, but dog daycare is even better! See if you can get your dog enrolled in the nearest dog daycare tomorrow. Off-leash play with well-behaved adult dogs is a must.
- The next best thing is to get that pup around as many different people and places as you possibly can. Your puppy should have the opportunity to pleasantly meet people of different sizes, races, and ages. Making these meetings as joyful as possible will help your pup to learn that people are not to be feared or dreaded. On that same note, getting the dog out and about to different locations will help to ensure that he looks forward to going places with you.
- Lastly but certainly not least, the use of a crate is an absolute must. Keep in mind that if you cannot keep an eye on your pup, he should be in his crate. This helps tremendously with housetraining, and also helps with managing other situations such as chewing inappropriate objects. Give him something to do that he has to look forward to in his crate such as a stuffed Kong or a Nylabone. And please remember to spend quality time with the little guy. His experiences with you should not just be taking him outside and putting him back in his crate! Interaction with you will help build a stronger lifetime bond.
Congratulations on your pup. Having a dog is a lifetime commitment, and the training should never end. Remember that life with a puppy can be hectic at times, but the amount of effort you put in while he is a youngster will help him to grow into a great adult companion!
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. Sandi Hansen. Sandi’s K9 Management.
