How to walk two dogs at the same time It’s important for me to dedicate individual time each day to my own dog Ace and to my foster dog Cosmo. Ace and Cosmo have different needs as far as attention, exercise and training, but I usually end up walking them together to save time. Or, …
Dog Training
Most dog owners know how to teach a dog to stay. But what about getting the dog to actually stay in one position without moving around? My foster dog Cosmo will stay in one spot, but he likes to swivel his whole body so he’s always facing me. He likes to see if I have …
Foster dog Cosmo and I have a lot in common. We don’t like crowds or loud noises. We’d prefer to stay home most of the time. We’re not into meeting new people. We’re shy. We both show zero appreciation for people’s kids. But like me, Cosmo is learning to tolerate kids. He doesn’t have to …
The right dog training tool for my dog may not be the right tool for your dog. This post looks at Gentle Leaders vs. pinch collars.
Stop a dog from nipping for treats My foster dog Cosmo is nuts about food. He will take a flying leap into his kennel for one piece of kibble, for example. When I get out the treats, Cosmo’s eyes bug out and he pants frantically. It’s extremely annoying. Although it’s nice to have a treat-motivated …
My foster dog Cosmo is teaching me to rely mostly on positive reinforcement training, to be patient and relaxed and to be creative in finding ways to boost his confidence. He reminds me to simplify everything I ask of him. Instead of expecting Cosmo to remain in a 20-minute stay, yield to me in doorways …
I’m one of those kids who was too heavily involved in extracurricular activities in high school and college and probably now. As an “adult” I have trouble sitting still. I have basically no attention span and can’t really watch TV or movies because I get bored. Most conversations with me lead to something like, “Oh, …
To me, “heel” means the dog will walk at my side with her nose even with my leg. The leash is always loose, and the dog knows to pay attention, to copy my pace and to stop if I stop.
“Out” is a very useful command. Ace is constantly in my business. Hovering. Begging. Drooling. If I didn’t have commands to direct him, I would go nuts. I use the command “out” to mean “leave the room we are in.” Other versions of this command could be “go lie down” or, if you’re a redneck, …
If your dog growls at other dogs it is because he’s trying to communicate something. If your dog growls, it doesn’t make him a bad dog.