My mutt Ace has become a more social and confident dog. I adopted Ace in March 2007 when he was exactly a year old. He was very friendly at this time, but also submissive and even shy. He didn’t know how to play with other dogs, although he enjoyed being around them. He didn’t eagerly …
Dog behavior
I use positive reinforcement to teach my dog not to barge through doors. When Ace makes the “human-like” decision to wait at the door, he is rewarded with praise, treats or a walk. If he barges ahead, we go right back inside (no fun). Ace is the type of dog that will get bored with …
You may have noticed I haven’t mentioned Morgan recently. That’s because after fostering him for two weeks, I made the difficult decision to stop fostering him.
Note: This is a guest post from my mom Nancy who recently started a breast cancer blog called Nancy’s Point. She also writes about her dogs Elsie and Sophie. I envy the optimism of my dogs as they greet each new day. I know many would say I imagine it, but it seems to me …
Because we don’t have quite enough black dog hair in our carpets, Ace and I have been hanging out with rescue dog Morgan this weekend. Check out some photos of him below – he’s a gorgeous retriever mixed with possibly Newfoundland. Morgan is taller than Ace with twice the energy, but he reminds me so …
Dog handlers fail to correct their dogs with the right timing and intensity. They say “No!” with the wrong tone of voice (not seriously enough, or too aggressively). People yank on choke collars, grasp tight leashes and scream out reprimands as the dog tunes them out. I walked by one woman who had a leash-aggressive …
Dogs are getting crazier. People just don’t understand them. I’ve never gone to a dog adoption event without some idiot allowing his stressed-out dog to charge right up to the dog I’m handling. Last week I was handling a sweet, laid-back American pit bull terrier named Jada who is a bit dog aggressive. Even after I …
Note: This is a guest post by Ty Brown who offers dog training in Salt Lake City and beyond. I asked Ty to contribute to my blog after he read my post on teaching a dog to stay and said he does not use a stay command. A dog told to sit should automatically stay, he …
How to teach a dog to take a bowl. Use a highly valued treat and lure your dog into the bow position. Do that several times, giving him the treat.
Dog owners miss out on opportunities to share experiences with their dogs beyond the backyard. To me, the ability to take my mutt almost anywhere is the whole point of having a dog. I specifically adopted Ace because of his calm manner and athleticism – perfect for all kinds of adventures. Training and socializing him is …