Dog Training Schedule With Your Dog

OK, I know all about the exercises and I do them with my dog every once in a while, but my dog just doesnt seem to get it!  What is going on here?

I am now going to show my age here, but remember Augie Doggie and Doggie Daddy?  If you are familiar with TV cartoons in the 1960’s, you will remember the cartoons where Doggie Daddy was always trying to teach his son, Augie Doggie a lesson.  I know that many other dog trainers (and a lot of trainers in my own organization) will say it is crazy to try and associate actual canine behavior with children’s cartoons.  The answer is that Doggie Daddy was absolutely correct in his training methods of his son, Augie Doggie.

I am not saying that my methods methods are based on a 1960s cartoon show, it just so happens that the show mimics the proven methods we use to gain our great results.  So what happened between Augie Doggie and Doggie Daddy?  It is real simple...

• YOU MUST BE CONSISTENT.  Dogs learn by doing the same thing the exact same way.  In order for us "humans" to accomplish this, we cant spend a whole lot of time every day working with our dog.  If we do, we will get sloppy and we wont be consistent.  That is why I suggest that you do not spend more that fifteen to thirty minutes per day performing exercises with yiour dog.  If you spend more time, you are only trying to build a Guinness Worlds Record of sits.  This doesnt work.  Remember, keep it short.
• YOU MUST BE REPETITIVE.  Remember how we learned our times tables?  Seven times Seven is Forty Nine.  Over and over again.  That is the same way that your dog learns his lessons.  ...Over and over again.  This means that you need to practice your exercises every day.  You cant just do it once or twice a week and think that it is going to stick.  It wont.

So remember, repetition and consistency with your exercises.  That is what is going to make it work!  For more information, please contact The Best Dog Trainers in South Florida.

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Stop Your Dog Nipping at Your Heals

Every time I walk past my dog, he lets me pass and then nips my heals or pant legs after I have walked by.  This is annoying and putting holes in my pants legs.  I don’t think it is right to kick him.  What should I do?

When a dog is overly playful or demanding of attention, he will try to do whatever he can to have you pay attention.  Nipping at your heals gets your attention.  You now stop doing what you were doing (walking down the hall) and turn to address his “request”.  You have now responded to your dog’s demand for attention and have submitted to his authority.

You cannot yell, hit, or scream in response to your dog’s nip.  These actions will often escalate the situation to where your dog will start to jump, bark, or even bite.  You must deescalate the situation and address the issue before it actually occurs.  You must show leadership to your dog in a consistent and repetitive manner.  Here is what you must do to correct the situation:

• As you approach your dog in preparation of passing him, stop, face him, and (in a very low tone) say “No”.
• Begin to slowly pass him.  As you are doing this, constantly face him.  When you are facing another person (or animal), that portrays dominance or assertiveness.  If your dog starts to move towards you, stop, continue to face him, and say (in a very low tone) “No”.
• Continue to move away from him and continue to face him.  This means that you will probably be walking backwards.  Do not practice this near a stoop or stairs.
• Once you are about ten feet away from him and he has not approached you, give him one more (in a low tone) “No”.  Turn around and continue walking.  Now you will be walking with your back to your dog.
• Just to be on the safe side, glance back to make sure that he isn’t making his move to nip.  If he is, correct him again while facing him.  Back away from him while you are facing him until you are another ten feet away.  Repeat this process, if necessary.

Practice this little exercise five to ten times a day for a few weeks.  Very shortly, you will notice that this “let’s nip daddy’s heals” has vanished.  Every family member that is experiencing this issue should perform this exercise.  If you have any questions, please contact us at The BestDog Trainers in South Florida.

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