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Don’t jump on Aunt Sophie! The #1 step to get your dog to greet your holiday guests politely

by | Dog Training Tips, General

Click here to watch the video

The holidays are coming and if that means your friends or family will be stopping by more often or even staying with you, then it’s time to make sure your dog is ready!

Some of your visitors might be scared, have allergies or <gasp!> they might not like dogs!

Then again, your dog might not have the best manners (yet!) or might not like your guests.

You can’t reason with your dog, so what can you do?

Imagine if your dog got to know your friends before they met them…

…got to know that your friends are super close and special to you
…that your friends are nice people
…that they can relax because your friends are staying awhile

It’s possible.

If your dog hears and smells a person before meeting them, they have a chance to learn about your friends and will have time to calm down too.

How can you manage that?

The number one thing you can do is have a place where your dog can’t see your visitors but can smell and hear them.

Dogs have an incredible sense of smell. They can actually smell something 300 feet under water so if your dog is in an upstairs bedroom when your guest is in the kitchen, for example, it is possible for your dog can still get to know your friend through scent. Plus, most homes have air circulating through heat or A/C.

Once your dog has some time to relax, then you can do the proper introductions.

That means before the holiday season starts, you’ll want to get your dog to be happy and content in a space where your dog can’t see your visitors. This can be another room, in a crate or in a gated area.

So start working on this now. It truly is the #1 step to take to get your dog ready for the holidays!

Do you need help?

That’s what the Play To Behave program is for and this month and next, keeping your dog calm when guests arrive including how to properly introduce your dog and more is our focus during the LIVE calls and inside the private facebook group.

You can have a dog you’ll be proud to introduce to your friends!

Join Play To Behave and my community at:

playtobehave.com/join

Your dog will thank you for it. 😉

Thanks for watching and reading and now I’d love to hear from you. 

Any questions? Let me know in the comments below.

From Difficult to Rewarding: Fran Bluhm’s story

by | General

Video thumbnail of Can your dog be bullied? Even if no other dogs are around?

Click here to watch the video

About 5 years ago, Fran Bluhm of Perigueux Poodles, came into my class after some challenging experiences with trainers. She was wary and wondered if I would be any different.

It’s important that you feel comfortable and can trust the behaviorist and trainer you choose. Your dog is a part of the family and can have as much effect on your family’s well-being as any other member, not to mention the importance if you plan to do any activites or sports with your dog.

Do you feel comfortable asking questions? Is the expectation from the instructor on par with your abilities and lifestyle? Will the trainer help you with behavior issues (that almost always crop up!)?

With Fran, it turned out to be the start of a rewarding experience for both of us. She has advanced in many areas with her dogs and competed in agility.

Her success has brought me great joy and…

…the bonus is that like many of my students, Fran has become a friend.

If you’ve wondered what it’s like to work with me, watch this video from Fran.

You can get great outcomes with your dog too! Join Play To Behave and my community at:

playtobehave.com/join

Your dog will thank you for it. 😉

Thanks for watching and reading and now I’d love to hear from you.

Hit reply and share your experience with dog trainers.

Is your dog being bullied? Even with no other dog around?

by | Dog Behavior

Video thumbnail of Can your dog be bullied? Even if no other dogs are around?

Click here to watch the video

Your dog’s reaction to another dog can seem outrageously overreactive and why? Maybe your dog used to love other dogs so why the change?!

It could be that your dog is being bullied and you don’t even realize it.

Maybe you have tried walking your dog when the neighborhood is quiet so you can avoid other dogs, but that hasn’t helped either.  

If that sounds like your dog, consider this…

…it could be that your dog is being bullied and you aren’t “seeing” the evidence because… well, you can’t!

Watch this video to see how your dog could be experiencing bullying or some form of harassment from other dogs, unbeknownst to you…

…and how you could make a change to help. 

To get more help, join my community at:

playtobehave.com/join

Your dog will thank you for it. 😉

Thanks for watching and reading and now I’d love to hear from you.

Hit reply and let me know if you have noticed a difference in your dog’s reactivity in your neighborhood vs. at the park vs. at a dog show, etc.

4 Causes of Dog Mouthing, Nipping or Biting

by | Dog Behavior

Click here to watch the video

If you have a dog that is mouthing, nipping or biting, it can be annoying and embarrassing, but much worse, it can be scary.

You’ve trained and loved and cared for your dog in every way, so why is this happening?!

You may be wondering if it means your dog is aggressive and if the behavior will get worse.

It could BUT…

…there are 4 other causes for mouthing, nipping and biting, so don’t despair.

What can you do?

Well, first, know that you must do something or this behavior can escalate and become dangerous.

Understanding why your dog is using their mouth is the key to solving the issue.

The solutions can be an easy fix, but other times…

…you may need help.

Watch the video to discover the 4 causes mouthing, nipping or biting so you can solve the issue before it becomes dangerous.

And if you need more help, join Play To Behave.

Click here to learn more:

playtobehave.com/join

Thanks for watching and reading and now I’d love to hear from you.

Please contact me or scroll down and leave a comment.

Dog Leash Reactivity: Are treats really the answer?

by | Dog Behavior

https://youtu.be/elXNjTo-pf4

Anxiety on the leash can cause your dog to start pulling, barking or lunging. Other dogs, animals, bicylcles, cars or people, can all trigger this behavior.

Chances are someone has suggested that you try using treats.

It makes sense, right? Giving treats or pairing something positive with something scary or incredibly exciting should make your dog learn to be calmer and love or at least tolerate that “thing”, because that “thing” means other good things will follow, like getting a treat. We, behaviorists call this “behavior modification”.

This strategy makes sense and it can work but…

…if this strategy has failed or frustrated you, I’m not surprised because it’s easy to miss one important piece in this strategy.

Are you making this mistake?

Click here to watch the video to find out

Need more help? Join Play To Behave! Learn more here playtobehave.com/join

Thanks for watching and reading and now I’d love to hear from you.

Please contact me or scroll down and leave a comment.

Help your dogs to get along using this exercise

by | Dog Behavior, Dog Training Tips

 

If you have more than one dog, chances are that you’ve noticed that as they age and mature or become more or less physically fit, their behavior and their relationship changes over time.

Sometimes your dogs may stop getting along, which can be frustrating, scary and even get beyond the point of repair. This is common when one of your dogs reaches social maturity somewhere around 2 1/2 – 3 years old.

The sooner you address the issue, the better.

Watch this video where I demonstrate an exercise you can do and adapt to your own dogs.

Just remember safety first! For one, make sure you and your dogs are safe around each other with food. Also, make sure you are safe. You may need to start with just one dog and work on it without the other dog around. Also, you can adapt this exercise and do it inside crates, or behind gates.

If you have any concerns, it’s best to consult a local professional first.

Click here to watch the video and then try it.

Need more help? Join Play To Behave when the program reopens. You can get on the list to be notified at playtobehave.com/join

Thanks for watching and reading and now I’d love to hear from you.

Please contact me or scroll down and comment if you tried this exercise and let me how it worked for you! 

Stop barking at the TV!

by | Barking, Dog Behavior, Dog Training Tips

The pace of the music speeds up, you know what’s around the corner and you want to scream and warn the girl on TV! You are on the edge of your seat when…

 

…your dog starts barking. UGHHHHHHH  You just missed the most important scene and even though you can rewind… the moment you’ve been waiting for is ruined.

 

Or that DANG commercial with the doorbell comes on again and you brace for the incessant barking once again. Or how about that TOUCHDOWN!!! Fun but suddently your dog is off the chain barking. Grrr…

Your stress level is now up and you can’t relax. That’s not what you want after you settle in to watch your favorite program after a long day or turn on your favorite team.

 

Barking at the TV can be annoying and/or frustrating. Maybe you thought your dog’s barking was cute or even funny at first, but after a while, barking can totally ruin your mood, wake people up and even bother your neighbors. How can you even have friends over to watch a game?

 

So now instead of relaxing…

 

…you are managing yet one more thing, adding to the stress of the day.

 

How can you stop that barking?!

 

Watch the video for 3 steps you can take to stop the barking at the TV and 2 mistakes you will want to avoid.

Need more help? Did you know you can teach your dog when to bark and when to stop? You can, using the 3 simple and easy steps in “Stop The Barking”, which you’ll find inside Play To Behave. Go to https://playtobehave.com/JOIN and learn more.

Thanks for watching and reading and now I’d love to hear from you.

Please scroll down and tell me if you have a system to prevent the barking at your TV? 

Your leash isn’t really an obstacle!

by | Dog Training Tips

Link to page mentioned in the above video:

playtobehave.com/oc

Whether it’s pouring rain or you have a dog that can’t wait to sniff, chase or lunge on the leash…

…leash walking can be at best, annoying and at worst, dangerous.

But your dog HAS to be walked… especially if you have a high-energy, crazy, young dog….right? 

Well, sort of. 

Watch this video and to discover another alternative to leash walking that will help with all that energy and also end up improving your dog on the leash!

Link to the page mentioned in the video above:

playtobehave.com/oc

Thanks for watching and reading and now I’d love to hear from you.

Please scroll down and leave a comment.

The first step to stop leash pulling

by | Dog Training Tips

Link to video mentioned in the above video:

playtobehave.com/listen

When your dog pulls on the leash, it’s not only annoying, it can be a safety hazard. Being pulled, even by a small dog can take you off balance and before you know it, you are on the ground!

It happened to me once when my puppy pulled me forward and I tripped on a rock. My knees, wrist and elbow healed but my FitBit still has a scratch on the face. Good reminder to watch where I’m going as well as another reinforcer to keep on training.

So what’s a great first step to stop leash pulling? Start training before you ever leave the house!

Stay safe and get started right before you ever leave the house.

Watch the video to find out more.

Link to the video mentioned in the video above:

playtobehave.com/listen

Thanks for watching and reading and now I’d love to hear from you.

Please scroll down and leave a comment.

Want to give up on your pandemic puppy or dog?

by | Dog Behavior

 

Link to video mentioned in the above video:

playtobehave.com/listen

I was very emotional yesterday as I read article after article from major news outlets about the huge number of dogs being returned. Just google “pandemic puppies returned”.

Are you one of them? Are you weary of taking care of your puppy or dog?

Maybe your dog can’t be trusted at home and has so so so many needs but your life is changing. Maybe you’ve been called back to work or your activities are starting back up and you just don’t know what to do about your puppy. What else can you do?

Watch the video

Link to the video mentioned in the video above:

playtobehave.com/listen

Thanks for watching and reading and now I’d love to hear from you.

Please scroll down and leave a comment.