Las Vegas Dog Training Blog

I received a question from a blog reader the other day which I thought would offer value to others as well.

I would like to get a quicker response to commands like you and fred get from your dogs. Should i increase the level on the remote? My dog works on level 1 & 2 right now.

Levels are all relative to the dog and to the situation. Increasing the intensity on your remote may result in a faster response, but it is a very one sided approach. There is also a good chance that the opposite of what you want could happen. The dog may slow down. My guess is the latter would be the most likely to occur.

The main reason you see our dogs performing commands so quickly is two-fold:

Firstly, our dogs have a clear understanding of the collar language and what it means in terms of performance. If your dog doesn’t have this understanding, then even if the collar is set to the highest level he won’t respond the way you want.

The second reason is the dogs have a high level of desire to perform a given task. Our dogs are not robotic creatures that work without reward. We always offer the dogs a release to break them out and encourage animation, speed and focus.

There are also genetic factors that come into play, and a slow dog genetically is never going to be a blazing-fast dog. The limitations of the dog are always a factor.

All in all, it comes down to understanding on both ends of the leash. The dog must understand what you want clearly, and the handler must understand how to motivate the dog properly. Pressure simply impels the dog and enhances clarity.

We have many great videos demonstrating the clarity and understanding that our dogs demonstrate, but the video below in particular is great for showing just an average day of training at the dog park with my two dogs.

In this clip you’ll see that in every sequence I have my dogs do, there is a toy involved of somewhere. This is their release. My dogs love toys, food, interaction, ANYTHING. They are high-drive dogs, and as such I tap into that drive in training. By linking commands with something of desire to them, they develop a strong desire to perform certain commands. Obviously I’m using a Sit Means Sit Dog Collar with my dogs in the park. This is my attention tool, which enhances anything I do in any other avenue.

August 18th, 2008 | Category: Dog Collars, Dog Obedience, Dog Training Las Vegas | Leave a comment

This is a great action shot from a recent Las Vegas DockDogs practice.

‘Shep’ and ‘Tank’ both black labs are working on their water entry at the edge of the pool to get a consistently fast entry with no hesitation. The two of them are very capable jumpers, and Tank actually did incredibly well at his very first DockDogs competition in Denver this past year. You can watch a video of Tank doing Speed Retrieve and Big Air on the Las Vegas DockDogs website.

Anyone interested in trying out DockDogs Diving with your dog can contact your local DockDogs club. There is a listing of North American clubs here. If you happen to be located in Las Vegas, feel free to come check out one of our practices. No experience necessary! More info about joining the Las Vegas DockDogs club is available here.

See you at the pool!

July 28th, 2008 | Category: Dog Training Las Vegas | Leave a comment

This is a video of my recent rescue dog ‘Phaneuf’ from the Henderson Shelter. She is a great dog and is incredibly animated and prancy. A great example of Sit Means Sit’s incredible training.

June 2nd, 2008 | Category: Dog Training Las Vegas | Leave a comment

This is a video shot of me with my rescue malinois ‘Trell’ doing a demonstration for a local rescue agency here in Las Vegas. This was done in a public park with some distraction evident. I mainly wanted to show off here for a bit and show people who may be wondering at home, will my dogs work without a Sit Means Sit Collar on? The answer, in short is “Yes!”.

I think this a a huge point that a lot of people assume that the dogs will work well with the Sit Means Sit Collar on, and yes if trained properly with work wonderfully with a collar on, but for me that’s not the end of it. I want my dogs to listen to me, not just to my remote dog collar. Realistically I’m not always going to have a collar on my dog, or a remote in my hand to press a button, and even if I did, there’s no guarantees that my dog will instantly respond. Dog have good and bad days, even highly trained obedience champions.

Ask any seasoned dog trainer who competes their dogs, and they will tell you that having food in your hand and a leash on your dog is no guarantee your dog will listen 100%. I see this as being true to remote dog collar training as well. There are no guranatees. What separates the Sit Means Sit approach from the rest of the pack, is that because the main goal of our training is to teach the Art of Attention, our dogs learn to filter out distraction which takes a lot of variables out of the picture for the dog. They learn to focus more of their attention and energy into the task that is desired instead of spending it on external stimuli.

The key is time and repetition. Knowing how to control your dog with a Sit Means Sit Collar is only half the equation. The final and most successful part is to have a dog that wants to listen and is motivated to do so. The above video is a great example of what can be accomplished with some dedicated follow-through.

April 18th, 2008 | Category: Dog Training Las Vegas | Leave a comment

This is a great video clip that we shot at a Police K9 training event held just outside Raleigh, North Carolina. Fred Hassen and I traveled to North Carolina where we met up with Sgt. Turning and Chief Turning of the Tinton Falls, NJ police department. They were here to assist us with getting control over about 20 police k9 teams.

There was a variety of dogs at the event, and some were young, some were old. I was actually quite impressed with the calibre of dogs that were at the seminar. Most of the dogs were absolutely incredible dogs if not all.

This video follows along with the training from day one to day three of a very aggressive dutch shepherd (I can relate). This dog was so equipment oriented that any time a muzzle was put on him, he would immediately go into fight mode and start clobbering anyone nearby. He was somewhat handler aggressive as well. The first step was to get him understanding the language of the collar, and focus his attention more. By day three you can see a dramatic improvement in his understanding, and we started building on his understanding and teaching him to focus where we wanted, not where he preferred to go.

At one point you can see some of his equipment fixation return when he tries to bite a sleeve lying on the ground. There’s still a lot of work to be done with him, but we only have three days to clean up years of garbage.

April 17th, 2008 | Category: Dog Training Equipment, Police K9 Training, Protection Dog Training | Leave a comment

The above video is a great example of what can be accomplished through the Sit Means Sit Dog Training Career Program. Those of you that are interested in a dog training career but aren’t sure of how to make that happen, have probably started with searching the internet. Without a doubt, you’ve probably come across at least a dozen companies that claim to teach you how to become a professional dog trainer. I’m not disputing that will teach you to become a professional dog trainer, and also how to train dogs. What I am curious about is: To what level of professionalism do they teach you?

For me, I feel that when it comes to doing something in a professional aspect indicates that you provide the absolute best quality of product, and top-notch service to go along with your incredible product.

In relation to dog training, for me this means they should teach you how to be head and shoulders above your competition. You can’t just be another joe-dog-trainer, you need to stand out to be successful.

Lets start with the fact that as a professional you should have the best dog out there. Your dog should impress everyone, not just pet owners. Your personal dog is your biggest advertisement, and as such you should be able to bring that dog out in public to use as an advertisment. Control and attention in this situation is necessary to success. You’d be surprised at how many professional dog trainers can’t take their dog out in public or do so, but have to keep a leash on them. Is that a trained dog? In my opinion, no.

Secondly, you should be able to show positive results with any dog that is brought your way. How fair is it to claim you are a dog trainer, but you don’t train dogs that are aggressive? How can a professional (the supposed ‘Top of the field’) place limits on what they are able to do and expect to be successful? Being versatile and adaptable is key.

Professional. For me this means a lot of things. For some it means a lot less.

The Sit Means Sit dog training career program is geared towards running a successful and viable dog training business. Not just learning to be a dog trainer, but learning to market your dog training business and build it strong. The above video showcases what our trainers should expect. Public demonstrations of this calibre are standard among our Sit Means Sit dog trainers. I invite you to surf the web. Visit franchise trade shows. Check out the competing dog training schools. Learn about their marketing program. I guarantee that no other dog training school is producing the results that Sit Means Sit does. We’re happy to show it, and if you want a first hand picture feel free to contact us to arrange a visit to either of our dog training career schools in either Las Vegas, NV or Denver, CO.

The Proof is in the Portfolio.

April 16th, 2008 | Category: Dog Obedience, Dog Training Career, Dog Training Las Vegas | Leave a comment

This video clip introduces the world to the First Installment of the Sit Means Sit Instructional Dog Training DVD Series: Teaching Your Dog to Swim. Our Las Vegas dog trainers were at Mix 94.1’s Pet-a-palooza this past weekend and we were demonstrating our fantastic dog training show. We feel that every Sit Means Sit trained dog should be versatile and happy.

In the clip below you can see how even at a public event, in the early summer (it was only 87 degrees that day, but plenty warm for April 12) we can keep our dogs comfortable while working hard. Having a dog that is comfortable getting into water and being wet is a wonderful way to keep them safe, even if it’s not a swimming pool. Water sprayers are wonderful for going to the dog park with as you can fill them with ice-water and spray your dog down frequently. We were using baby pools and sprayers at this event.

Lianne Hassen, a Las Vegas dog trainer found a wonderful product made by Outward Hound called a “Swamp Jacket”. This jacket can be soaked in water and wrung out before fitting to your dog. The special material holds the water, but allows it to evaporate creating a cooling effect for the dog. It is also a light colour which reflects the sun’s rays, and keeps darker dogs, like my Dutch Shepherd Pharaoh more comfortable in the summer heat. The jacket can be seen in this video clip as well.

For more information on teaching your dog to swim contact us, or you can purchase our instructional dog training video (DVD) on how to teach your dog to swim.

April 15th, 2008 | Category: Dog Training DVD, Dog Training Las Vegas, Water Dog Training | Leave a comment

One of my favourite past-times is taking my dogs to the dog parks here in Las Vegas. It’s a great place to socialize your dog if they are dog social, but it’s more importantly a GREAT place to teach your dog to pay attention around some VERY heavy distraction.

There always seems to be a large variety of dogs at the parks, and my personal favourite dog park in Las Vegas is about 10 minutes from my house at the corner of Buffalo Drive and Washington. Located just off the Summerlin Parkway exit at Buffalo, you enter off of Washington and there are three separate dog parks.

The dog parks are rotated seasonally to allow the grass to re-establish itself each year. There is a separate run for the larger dogs, and a special small dog park to keep the little ones safe from being accidentally trampled. There are water fountains at each entrance to the parks for both people and dogs, as well as ample poo-bag dispensers. There are also public restrooms with flush toilets, which is a nice amenity.

This video showcases my two rescue dogs, Trell a rescue Belgian Malinois that was given up to a rescue group for an unknown reason. It also showcases Pharaoh, my rescue Dutch Shepherd who had several homes before I found him. He was considered a very difficult dog to control and when I first started with him had to deal with fixing his old training first.

I personally feel that any dog is capable of doing amazing things, including rescue dogs. I happened to get really lucky with the dog I have, but I am a firm believer that a good dog can only be great if given the chance. With the right approach and right understanding of the dog, you can achieve incredible things. Having my dog-aggressive rescue malinois in a dog park heeling attentively with me is a great example. Enjoy the rescue dog training video!

April 14th, 2008 | Category: Dog Obedience, Dog Training Las Vegas, Rescue Dogs | Leave a comment

This is a photo of a recent acquisition of mine, an 11 month old border collie that I adopted from the Henderson Animal Shelter. Her name is Phaneuf and she’s a total lunatic. She would make a great agility dog.

Come out to our Las Vegas Dog Training School to see her in action or watch for her at one of our many dog training events.

March 10th, 2008 | Category: Agility Dog Training, Dog Obedience, Dog Training Henderson | Leave a comment

As a Las Vegas dog trainer I get calls to work with and train clients that have small dogs as pets and companions. Every dog is an individual and some small dogs can be fearful, while other small dogs can be aggressive, and others are over-the-top friendly. Many different personalities and many different problems. Some small dogs run away, some small dogs bark excessively, some small dogs like to pee in the house. Despite the type of behavioural problem that our clients are experiencing, there is hope. Even for those dogs you might consider untrainable. In fact the commonly carried thought on training small dogs is that either the dog cannot be trained effectively because he is so small, or in the majority of cases the dog owner doesn’t consider the behavioural problem to be too serious because the dog is small and can’t really do too much damage.

Many small dog owners keep their dogs indoors. Dog training for an indoor dog has it’s merits for a couple of reasons. Firstly, many little dogs, puppies in particular have issues with peeing or eliminating in the house. Potty training is probably the number one dog problem that our clients with small dogs have. Potty training is not a complicated process, but because of the freedom given to the small dog with sense of leadership or structure, the dog will easily sneak out of sight and potty in the house without the owners realizing. Having basic control over a small dog enables the dog owner to provide guidance and structure which in turn enables the owner to teach the dog to eliminate in a desired area, whether it’s on a potty pad or outside in a designated area.

Another VERY common problem for the indoor small dog as well as small dogs who travel with their owners outdoors is that of excessive barking. Small dogs were originally bred as companion dogs and for pest control and to this day they still fulfill the role of companion dog. What many people don’t realize is that the companion dogs in antiquity were selected based on their loyalty and territorial nature. In essence the dogs that were most willing to alert when someone or something trespassed were often the ones chosen to be bred. This means that over the centuries little dogs have been selectively bred to be good guard dogs. Regardless of whether a small dog owner wants a guard dog or not, they very often get an exceptional one. More often than not, these dogs take it upon themselves to bark at everything that is new to them and often without stopping. More often than not this barking is considered nuisance barking.

Small dogs are often welcome in apartment and condominium units because physically they are unobtrusive, however their nature to be territorial guard dogs gets in the way of peaceful living. Excessive barking is actually a very easy to control problem, and the key to teaching your dog to quiet on command is a two step process.

The first step is teaching the dog to pay attention to you by teaching them to do a specific task. The task or obedience command that I teach my clients who own small dogs is how to “place” on command. This basically requires the dog to go to a mat or dog bed on command and stay there. The more challenging the object is to place on, the more effective it will be to teach the dog how to stop barking. The principle here is channelling the small dog’s energy and attention he is putting into barking into another task. Keeping him busy takes his attention off of what is causing him to bark.

When the dog will reliably go to “Place” on command around distractions, then the dog will stop barking. This is where step two comes into play. Teaching the dog to be “Quiet” on command involves using the “Place” command to create the understanding in the dog’s mind between the word “Quiet” and the action of stopping barking. When the dog begins to bark the pattern to use involves telling the dog “Quiet” once or twice, and if he continues to bark, sending him to his “Place” and then repeating the command “Quiet” when the dog is on his place. In time the dog will realize that the word “Quiet” equates to going to his “Place” and stopping barking.

Below is a video we shot with a small dog named “Brodie”. Brodie is a Shih-Tzu, and his owner was looking to learn to calm Brodie down when people would come over. In only two lessons Brodie was a completely different dog. He learned how to kennel on command as well as come back when called. We also taught Brodie to sit on a stool around some very tough distraction. He did amazing! Don’t take my word for it, have a look for yourself. Brodie’s owner wants him to be a companion and a lap dog. Brodie is allowed to jump on people as well Brodie is allowed on the couch and sleeps with his owner in her bed. Even though Brodie is allowed to jump and say hello to visitors, not every person we meet likes dog jumping on them, so Brodie’s owner taught him to stay in his kennel on command.

For small dogs that love to bark a lot and are persistent about it, then I typically teach the dog to sit on a very tiny “Place”. Usually small portable step-stool works perfectly and the slippery nature of the plastic requires the dog to concentrate even harder to avoid breaking their command.

Remember that even an obstinate small dog still has the desire to please their owner, the owner just needs to know how to tap into the dog’s desire to please and attention.

November 21st, 2007 | Category: Dog Obedience, Dog Training Henderson, Dog Training Las Vegas, Excessive Barking, Housebreaking, Small Dogs | Leave a comment

When the average dog owner thinks of dog training, there are a number of different images that often come up in their minds. Considerations of approach or method of training (usually stipulated by the use of a certain tool) and also the style of training whether done in a group environment, privately, or a aptly named boot-camp or “board and train” type dog training program.

In this article we are going to explore the various dog training collars and tools that abound today’s consumer. If you as a pet-owning consumer were to stroll through the aisles of you local pet store and hit the training equipment aisle, you would certainly on your first visit be overwhelmed by the myriad of choices and options. It seems there are hundreds of different dog training devices available, from toys with built in clickers to anti-pulling harnesses to dog-bark translators. Obviously some carry far less merit as training tools then as purely entertainment devices, however there are a still several options that continue to persist as the years progress. Some of the most common devices available these days include: clickers, head-halters, harnesses, flat-collars, martingale collars, slip-collars, choke chains, pinch/prong collars and remote electronic collars.

There is a lot of dispute in the dog training world about which tool is appropriate and one of the strongest buzz words these days in dog training circles is “humane”.

Some of the dog training tools that are available have been around since the time when my grandparents were born, whereas some are relatively new comers on the scene. Each tool available has a specific purpose and use, and though some dog trainers may tend to favour certain tools, ultimately they all have a place and carry out a specific role. Their persistence in the marketplace is an example of just how useful some tools can be despite the uneducated opinion many people hold about them.

I want to focus this article on the application of these various tools and hopefully dispel the myths and present some facts. A quick note before we begin our analysis. Controversy is a favourite past-time of humans, and perhaps one of the most contentious topics for people is the use of “humane” dog training tools. One of the biggest hurdles for a lot of dog owners is releasing their emotional attachments to their dogs and forcing themselves to form educated opinions of these tools. Lack of education leads to ignorance. Ignorance leads to condemnation. Being realistic is what enables a dog owner to determine humane from inhumane. Using our eyes, ears and brains are the best way to determine how humane something is. Education is key. Another quick note: it is advised that NO collar or training tool should be left on your dog unattended or overnight. The risk of strangulation or injury is always present even if your dog is in a crate or kennel. It’s also important to educate yourself on how to properly use a tool to achieve effective results and minimize risk. Consult a professional dog trainer that is proficient in using a certain tool successfully if you are looking for more information. 

Let’s begin by analyzing some of the newer tools on the market that fit into the supposed “humane” end of the spectrum of dog training tools.

Clickers are a widely used tool in dog training and really represent a modern wave in dog training that is founded on the principles of the behavioural theory of operant and classical conditioning. Avoiding the technical stuff, basically a clicker is a small plastic box embedded with a piece of metal that when pressed like a button makes a loud and unique “click-click” sound. The theory behind this tool is that it is by nature a neutral tool. The noise has no meaning to the dog. However as part of clicker training, the trainer teaches or “conditions” the dog that the clicker equates to something of high-value to the dog. This resource could be a toy/game or more commonly food.

Basically the clicker is used like a camera to capture a picture in the dog’s mind. By clicking the clicker the instant the dog offers or performs a desired behaviour, the action is marked with a reward. Clicker training is very effective at teaching behaviours to dogs, but really only acts as a pull factor. This means that there is nothing pushing the dog to perform except their own desire, which for some dogs is not a problem, but for dogs who are prone to distraction this is only half the equation. Many dogs that have been successfully trained using a clicker, but again keep in mind that it is all highly dependent on the knowledge that is applied.

Head-halters and other variations of the tool work on the premise that the dog learns to stop straining on a leash based on the consequences of their own actions. Essentially these tools are fitted to your dog’s body (either head or chest or a combination) and a leash is attached to the device. The device is designed to prevent pulling by squeezing or torquing the dog’s body parts so as to make it uncomfortable for them to pull on the leash. Some dog trainers used these tools as control devices to help dogs ignore distraction while teaching them desired behaviours with clickers, food or their desired approach.

The biggest challenge with these tools is understanding how to fit them properly to keep them effective and also in being able to phase out the use of the tool and still have the dog understand how to walk properly. This is not a limitation of the tool, but rather a limitation of the individual using the tool. If the halter is used as a control device instead of a training tool, then the dog owner will always be dependent on the tool. This is the same as that old saying: “Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach him to fish and feed him for a lifetime.” Many people get spoiled by the quick control that they don’t bother to use the tool as part of a training regime.

There area variety of dog training collars available these days which can ultimately be broken down into two categories: static collars and constriction collars.Static collars are collars that stay the same size and do not constrict when a leash is pulled. They come in a variety of materials  such as plastic, nylon, metal, leather as well as different designs. These are the most common tools and most every dog owner has one for their dog. They allow for identification tags to be attached and can even be used for training as a general purpose control collar.

Constriction collars do as the name implies: they constrict when pressure is applied with a leash. Choke chains, slip collars, martingale collars and pinch/prong collars all fit into this category as do some halter/harness designs. Perhaps the oldest and most widely used collar in this category is the choke chain.

Choke chains are remnants from the old military style dog training days. Originating around World War I, they have persisted over the years and are still the most commonly used tool by police and military departments in the US today. As with any tool, proper knowledge of how to use the tool properly is of paramount importance. Improper sizing and fit of ANY of these collars can result in damage to your dog.There is a reason that many of these tools have persisted over the years, and that is because with the proper application and knowledge these tools allow dog trainers to train dogs reliably and repeatably. If you are unsure of what can be accomplished using these tools, seek out a professional dog trainer who is successful using these tools to gain an educated opinion. Ask to see their dog as well. This will give you an impression of the results you can expects. A visual picture is worth a lot more than a thousand words.

A final category of dog training collars that is perhaps the most controversial is that of electronic dog training collars. There are different tools within this category that all serve different purposes.

There are electronic bark control devices such as bark-beepers which are designed to discourage nuisance barking by distracting the dog with a high-frequency beep activated by their bark. Bark collars use either a citronella burst or adjustable electric stimulation to deter unwanted barking. Usually a sound/vibration sensor on the collar detects when the dog barks an emits a correction. These devices and their quality vary a lot from manufacturer to manufacturer. There are pros and cons to these devices.

Firstly with citronella collars and bark-beepers these are designed to interrupt behaviour through distraction or in the case of citronella collars a mild aversive. The problem here is every dog is different and what works for one dog won’t necessarily work for all dogs. Some dogs are not deterred by citronella spray at all. They simply learn to avoid or ignore it. 

With electronic bark collars, it is imperative for the above reason to make sure you purchase a collar that has multiple levels available. Relate bark collars and the stimulation provided to the volume of a stereo. You want adjustability because different situations may require higher or lower levels, and also because some dogs are more or less sensitive than the next. Also keep in mind that bark collar are 100% safe. There is no possible way that your dog can be burnt or hurt by the electrical stimulation they deliver. These devices are designed on the same principles that muscle stimulators are designed on. These devices used very low current stimulation which will not damage human or dog tissue. Some models are waterproof and some even have bark odometers to let you know how many times your dog barked while you were out.

Finally we reach the area or remote controlled electronic dog collars. Again these collars can either utilize a citronella based spray or electric stimulation. The citronella based remote collars are useful but typically are limited for the same reasons mentioned above for bark collars, but also in that they tend to be cheaply built and are really only designed for bad behaviour solving and typically don’t work past a 50-100ft in reality.

Remote electric collars are sometimes referred to as “Shock Collars” which really is a bad name for these tools. The term shock is an emotionally charged term that creates an image of pain in people’s minds. They relate these tools to cattle-prods and tasers, which couldn’t be further from the truth. Modern remote collars utilize medical-grade electric stimulation which is both highly adjustable and 100% safe. Modern advances in technology also allow for some remote collars to utilize vibration features which are also useful in dog training. 

Changes in the mindset of some dog trainers has allowed for the application of remote dog collars in a wide variety of applications. Traditionally remote dog collars were used strictly as an aversive impulse to deter unwanted behaviour or to correct undesired response during training in distracting environments or at distance. Recently dog trainers have begun to take advantage of the adjustability of modern day remote collars and have found that remote collar no longer are confined to being used strictly as punitive tools. Many dog trainers are able to use remote collars to actually teach dog new skills as well as break the boundaries implied by traditional dog training tools and approaches.

Remote collars are a controversial topic but as with any dog training tool, it is imperative to educate yourself and view successful remote collar training in action before making an educated opinion. Sit Means Sit has a wide variety of dog training videos and even offers free demonstrations of our dog training technique at our dog training locations as well as our dog training seminars.

The internet is a vast resource for dog training and information on dog training collars and tools. Regardless of how you choose to train your dog and what tool you use, remember to use your common sense.

Determine your goals, educate yourself on the options available to you, seek out assistance or knowledge on how to use a tool successfully, but most importantly do what is going to work best for you and your dog.

November 16th, 2007 | Category: Dog Collars, Dog Obedience, Dog Training Equipment, Dog Training Las Vegas | Comments (2)

Las Vegas and it’s neighbouring communities Henderson, North Las Vegas and Boulder City are fast growing communities. Part of the communities’ growth results in a greater number of dogs in these areas. With the number of dog owning households at an all time high, animal control and awareness is a prime concern for many of the cities’ governing bodies. Dog bites are a growing concern in our communities and with each new dog bite case, the level of anti-dog sentiment in our country grows.

A few months back our staff was asked by the City of Henderson to arrange and present a seminar on Dog Bite Prevention at the Henderson Animal Control Facility for staff of the Code Control division. Code control officers, as well as postal workers, couriers, and delivery personnel are at an extreme risk when they hit the streets daily to fulfill the roles their jobs ask of them. Stray and out of control dogs are one of these workers biggest concerns and dangers that they encounter.

The Sit Means Sit staff regularly donates their time to assist local private and governmental agencies around the country in developing a higher level of education and awareness. We feel that education is one of the only ways to help keep our workers safe in the event of a dog attack while on their route. In many of the reported cases of dog bites, the bites themselves could have easily been prevented had the workers had some basic knowledge of how to fend off a dog attack using the tools that they carry in their day to day job.

The demonstration that our staff put on for the Henderson Code Control went in depth into how to utilize barriers and movement to prevent a dog bite in the event of an attack. The following dog training video clip demonstrates to the officers how to remain calm in the event of a dog attack and bite. Some of the officers were even afraid of dogs. We used my dutch shepherd Pharaoh to assist us with the demonstration. The clip highlights some of the more exciting moments.

October 24th, 2007 | Category: Dog Bite Prevention, Dog Training Henderson, Protection Dog Training | Leave a comment

I was recently called upon by one the many local Las Vegas area home development companies to provide a trained dog for a promotional photo shoot that KB Homes was doing to advertise their new Henderson Development Inspirada.

They were doing a night time shoot situated in one of their beautiful model homes located in the desirable south valley area. Situated about 5 minutes from I-15 and St. Rose Parkway in Henderson, NV. Call time was set for 6:30pm and as I arrived I navigated my way through the up and coming development to locate the sales center. It was kind of amazing driving in on the entrance road which was a very blank and uninspiring desert road that seemed to be looping towards the Anthem Hills area of Henderson, a well known and enstablished community in our area. Rounding a bend in the road brought into view a cluster of houses and parks all lit and beginning to silhouette against the near full moon rising in the east.

I quickly found the sales center and met our contact for the shoot. We moved on to the model home we were shooting. I parked my van in back of the construction area in a dirt lot that had yet to be built upon and let my Malinois ‘Trell’ out to stretch her legs and burn off some steam. One of the crew members informed me that we were shooting in the courtyard of an adjacent house and to head over when ready.

We entered the courtyard from a wrought iron gate and came upon the set. It was as you would expect any of the thousands of high-scale Las Vegas area homes. A walled in courtyard comprises the backyard for a two-storey stucco home. This model happened to have a rather relaxing balcony perched above the courtyard looking down on it. The scene that had been set was that of a dinner party in full swing with five people chatting and laughing around a mosaic tiled table adorned with chardonnay and hors d’oeuvres and a blazing fire in a cut stone facade fireplace. Trell’s part was to be the token dog of the scene.

Our job was relatively simple, unlike some past shoots I’ve done (up to this point all have been commercial/video shoots) this task didn’t require any difficult movements or such, just that the dog pose where she was needed and look part of the group. Now considering we’re dealing with a malinois, which are known for their ethusiasm but also energy this would seem a task for some, but thankfully Trell is particularly good are relaxing as needed. To be honest she can be a bit of a couch potato sometimes.

The photographers re-arranged the set several times and we ended up shooting for the full hour and a half we were booked for.

This was a unique experience for me as I had never been on a photo set before and it was surprising how natural it all worked. The models were really just sitting around chatting, telling stories to each other to bring out realistic emotions and responses. It really felt as though it was just a dinner party with a few extra people behind the scenes.

Trell was of course the center of attention for the crew and cast. Her favourite part was when we wrapped up and the cast was sitting around enjoying the spread of food and drink and they thought it fair that she join in. Everyone there was taken by her abilities and enthusiasm and naturally her sweet as pie personality. She’s a real charmer.

It was a great experience for both us and the crew. The crew was impressed at how quickly and easily we were able to wrangle our dog into position and improvise various moves. Even though the demands were low for this particular shoot, I took the opportunity during re-sets to show off some of Trell’s other skills. They were blown away at the versatility of her training and also how reliable she was. Obviously when time is money it helps when you’re working with models that are efficient at following instructions.

September 25th, 2007 | Category: Commercial Dog Training, Dog Training Henderson | Comments (1)

The following is a great video one of our Las Vegas dog trainers Lianne put together of her rather larger-than-average-jack-russell-terrier ‘Flip’ and my dog ‘Trell’. Lianne was good enough to watch ‘Trell’ for me while I was out of town that weekend, and ‘Trell’ being as nutty about swimming as she is made this a great arrangement. ‘Trell’ and ‘Flip’ decided they’d have a little fun in the pool and started doing things kind of ‘in sync’ with one another, which then turned into a fully choreographed synchronized swimming display by the two of them. I think all they need now are a couple of pink swimcaps with daisies on them and they’ll be set for the next doggie summer Olympics.

Check out the video below. It’s a short one, but is rather cute.

One of the most amazing things that came into my head when I was watching this video, is just how far ‘Trell’ has come in the time I’ve had her. The day I evaluated ‘Trell’ as a training candidate for myself I was excited at the prospect of getting a Malinois, and was willing to overlook her obvious behavioural problems if she was a strong working dog. I was hopeful but not blind to reality. I was adopting a dog aggressive dog, as well as one that could very well have some tempermental issues with people (it can be hard to tell from a 15 minute interview).

As time would show me and I recount now, ‘Trell’ dog aggression rehabilitation had it’s ups and downs. It really was like a rollercoaster ride for the first 6 months or so. Incredible to see how time, patience and obedience training (structured exposure) have worked to bring her edgy attitude around dogs to a minimum. This video is a great example of where Trell’s dog aggression has gone. She now makes new friends fairly regularly. In a leash free dog park she is under control (this doesn’t change the fact that I can’t control the other dogs there, so having an obedient and watchful dog is incredibly important). My home life has also become less stressful as the outbursts at home between the pack members and her have diminished almost completely. All that remains of Trell’s aggression at home is some typical Alpha-Female tendencies.

Perhaps my favourite moment is watching her make a new friend (they’re few and far between). Seeing her solicit play from another dog is such an entertaining ballet of body language and erratic dips and rolls. Clowns till the end.

September 10th, 2007 | Category: Dog Training Las Vegas, Water Dog Training | Leave a comment