Training Basics

Is the Remote Collar for me?- a matter of perspective and understanding.

In the world of dog training there are a few hot topics that really get people riled up.  These topics include spaying and neutering, food choice, vaccination methods and training tools (to name a few).  Few topics though rise to the level of heated argument that is seen with remote collars, otherwise known as the…

The Invisible Leash

What I call “The Invisible Leash” is a key concept of mine. It could be considered one of the truly fundamental aspects of interacting with a dog. What is “The Invisible Leash”? It is actually two things: 1- Consider it to be that bond that you have developed with your dog. Think of it as…

Choosing the right toy can save you a world of problems.

Selecting the proper toy for your dog is more critical then you might think. Going to the pet store and saying ” oh, this is so cute, my puppy will love it” may not be the best way to go. Choosing a stuffed toy may open the door to your dog chewing on pillows, clothes…

Who is to blame?

Many times people come across a situation in training their dog and they get frustrated when the dog will not obey. They blame the dog by yelling at it, giving physical corrections, an may even end the session in a bad mood. They blame the dog for its performance. We must get into the mindset…

The importance of socializing your dog

Few people understand what proper socialization is, and how critical it is to reducing dog bites. Proper socialization- the act of teaching the dog to not react by de-sensitizing him to those things he will encounter in daily life. The positive exposure of the puppy to many situations and environments that the puppy may encounter….

Solving problems before they occur by selecting the most appropriate dog for your family.

One of the best ways of avoiding problems associated with owing a dog, aside from training, is selecting a dog that most closely fits into your lifestyle. Do some research into the various breeds so that you can make an informed decision. That cute puppy may grow up and be a dog that was not…

What is a dog’s drive?

Behavior drives are the instincts that make a dog act the way he does. Almost everything a dog does can be attributed to a specific behavior drive. The key is to manipulate a dog’s natural drives to create wanted behavior. Recognized main drives are; the sociability drive, the food drive and the prey drive

What is temperment?

Temperament can be defined as an individual’s way of behaving or reacting to specific or general stimuli or situations. Reactions can include fear, curiosity, willingness, courage, aggression, etc.. Temperament is a combination of genetics and environment. Genes define the outer limits of how and what an animal can learn. However, environment and experience can shape…

A history of dog training

Prior to WWI, most dogs were members of family with important jobs (herding, ratting) The dogs became “trained” as a result of the working arrangement. During WWI, dogs were needed to assist the soldier, many dogs became casualties A need to train vast quantities to replace those lost. This need for rapid training brought about…

A problem with the use of the leash

Using a physical correction (i.e. leash) can be counter productive. Case in point- the dog jumps up on people and you use a leash to correct him. The dog could develop a negative association. The dog may learn not to like people as it is a cue that something bad is going to happen. An…