Imagine coming down the steps Christmas morning and finding a wiggly, furry friend under the tree. Many children and adults will be greeted by this wonderful gift this year. Christmas puppies can be a rewarding present if proper research and time are committed to the puppy from the beginning. So how do you go about adding a new family member in this busy season? Here are a few beginning steps for picking your new puppy this Christmas.

Now is the time to start researching your new furry friend. Begin by choosing a breed that will best fit your family’s activity level and personality.

• Very active families might like a breed such as a Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, Australian Shepard or even a small dog such as a Jack Russell Terrier. Breeds such as these will be willing to run for hours at a time or be happy to join in for a day trip to the lake. Be prepared to invest time and training into your active puppy.
• A calm and laid back family might enjoy a calmer dog such as a Shih Tzu, Great Dane, or Basset Hound. These dogs, once past the puppy months, are generally happy to lounge around after their daily walk.

Once you have researched your family’s ideal breed, it is time to find him! If you are looking for a specific breed, Petfinder is the perfect place to look! You can type in your specific breed and narrow it by geographic location. The results will show various shelters and rescues that are looking to place dogs. Of course, you could also visit local shelters or rescues to see if a particular dog speaks to you. You might be surprised how many pure breeds are there! (And of course you know, we all love mixes.) Adrian Hitt Dogography offers a great dog resource page that highlights such places. And don’t forget that the Twelve Dogs of Christmas are still looking for homes – maybe yours!

Why adopt instead of purchase from a breeder? There are many reasons, but know that by adopting you not only save the life of your dog, but of another by freeing up a space for her to get off of the streets.

You have now found your puppy and have reserved it for the holidays! Go ahead and discuss with the family everyone’s individual responsibilities for the puppy once she comes home. Make sure everyone in the family has a part in feeding, training, and walking the puppy. (Remember that young children will have to be supervised in their puppy responsibilities.)

Your new dog will become a loved and cherished member of the family in no time. With proper training and care your puppy will become a loving, obedient, and loyal family companion.

Have a nice holiday season!

Katie’s Dog Training offers private, in-home training sessions so that you can experience the loyalty and companionship that a well balanced dog offers. Even though she has graduated numerous training schools, the dogs themselves tend to be her most beneficial teachers. She and her husband share their home with three wonderful dogs, Luka, Jazzy and Honey as well as a crazy cat named D’Angelo.

Hi everyone! I am sure that you have started seeing holiday items on shelves in the local stores. The holidays are a great time filled with family and friends, but it can also be a very confusing and stressful time for your dog. Just as the stores are preparing early for the holiday rush, you get an early start preparing your dog for busy gatherings and new people.

A simple command can save your guests from over enthusiastic greetings, and show your dog what you expect from him. This command is very helpful in that it will allow your dog to be involved, but not underfoot. It only takes one tripped cook and dropped turkey or tofurkey to realize the usefulness of this command!

So what is this wonderful command? It is Place.
What does Place mean? It directs your pup to his mat (or bed) and lie down.
This command will give your dog a safe area all his own. Start now and your dog will be a pro at the Place command just in time for fall visitors!

How to Start:
To begin, your pooch needs his very own mat or bed. The type of bed that is made to fit your dog’s crate works very well. It has slightly raised sides and a flat bottom, but if your dog already has a favorite that will be just fine.

Step One: Introduce the Place command with treats.
Practice this stage for one week and try to practice for a few minutes twice a day. Put the mat in the middle of the floor. Be sure to have Simon on a leash when you practice this command, as this will allow you to guide him if he seems confused. Begin by having Simon sit a few feet away from the mat. Let him see you put the treat in the middle of his special mat. Enthusiastically tell Simon”Place” and point to the mat. Simon will run to the mat to eat the treat. The second he touches the mat, praise “Good Place.” If he overshoots the mat or doesn’t move, guide him with the lead and tell him “No Place.” Be sure to praise once he gets it right. Repeat this step the first couple of days. Once Simon understands the command, try it without the treat. When Simon is running to the mat consistently, it is time to move to the second step.

Step Two: Lying Down on the Mat.
Practice this step for one week a couple of times a day. Repeat the above steps a couple of times as a review for Simon. Once he is warmed up, it is time to introduce the second part of the Place command. Tell Simon “Place.” Once he runs to the mat tell him “Down.” Be careful to not praise for the command Place until he is lying down, and then praise “Good Place” and give a treat. If your dog does not know the down command, you can use a sit or guide him into a down using your treat. Know that Simon is very smart and he will learn that Place is always followed by a down. In a short amount of time, he will lie down without being told (he knows the down is next anyway). Use lots of praise and treats when he follows Place and you’re sure to have an obedient dog!

Step Three: Staying on the Mat.
Like the others, practice this step for one week a couple of times a day. Once Simon is running to his Place and lying down, it is time to teach him to stay there. Give the command Place. Once he is lying on his mat, tell him stay and take a step back. If Simon stays, walk back to him and praise, then release him with all done or okay. If Simon gets up before his release, tell him No Place and take him back to his mat. Once Simon masters you taking one step away, add a couple of more before you go back and praise. Soon you will be able to walk around the room while he stays on his mat. You are now ready for the last step!

Step Four: Adding Distraction.
Practice this step with increasing difficulty until Simon no longer gets up from his mat without being released. When Simon is using this command in real life, there will likely be some very interesting and exciting things happening. Activities such as people coming in and out the door, or children playing with a ball a few feet away are all likely disturbances. Help Simon prepare for these big distractions by practicing them before hand. Once Simon is staying in his Place as you walk around the room, add in a simple distraction – such as slowly rolling a ball past. If Simon stays, praise Good Place. If he gets up tell him, No Place and take him back and try again. As Simon learns to stay with little distractions, try harder ones – such as the door opening.

This command will take Simon a few weeks to master, but you will be very proud of all your hard work. Place is a command that will come in handy for all sorts of occasions and situations. Take the time to practice now, and by the holidays Simon will be happily lying on his mat with his favorite bone! Feel free to comment with any dog training questions you have.

Katie’s Dog Training offers private, in-home training sessions so that you can experience the loyalty and companionship that a well balanced dog offers. Even though she has graduated numerous training schools, the dogs themselves tend to be her most beneficial teachers. She and her husband share their home with three wonderful dogs, Luka, Jazzy and Honey as well as a crazy cat named D’Angelo.

Every dog has its own unique personality, just like us humans. Your dog might have a mix of a few different personalities, but recognizing the main personality in your dog can go a long way to successful training and communication. Remember that all dogs can learn no matter their age or breed. Look over these 6 common personalities and see if you can pick out what most fits your dog or puppy!
Happy-Go-Lucky-This is the dog or puppy that has never met a stranger and is happy no matter what situation he might be in.
Fearful-If your dog fits into this category, you have seen her exhibit signs of excessive fear around new objects or situations. Lucy might be terrified of the vacuum, flags, toaster, or other common household objects.
Shy-Many times a shy dog is very timid around new people or children. Your shy dog could possibly still be fearful of people that it has seen many times.
Dominant-The dominant dog feels that it owns the house, yard, and all people he lives with. Many times a very dominant dog shows how he feels through aggressive or pushy behavior.
Basket Case- Puppy mill dogs are the classic example of a basket case dog. This is a dog that has never learned how to live happily in the human world. These dogs can exhibit very odd and unusual behavior.
Hyperactive-This personality explains itself. Dogs that fit this personality are at this moment jumping from couch to couch and running crazily around the house – of course all after a hour walk around the neighborhood.

Did you see the personality that fits your dog or puppy? You may notice that your dog is a mix of a couple of different personalities. Note that each personality comes with its own unique learning style and challenges.

Happy-Go-Lucky- Many dogs have a Happy-Go-Lucky personality. Labradors and Golden Retrievers tend to be great examples of this paticular personality. They love everyone and are very excited to experience new situations. If your Jack fits into this group, you will find that he learns very quickly and happily. Jack will be eager to learn all that you can teach him, from basic obedience to dog sports such as Agility or Flyball. This personality sounds perfect right? When you are working with your Happy-Go-Lucky dog, you will likely find a unique challenge. Even though they learn things quickly, there comes a point in training that they figure out commands are expected all of the time – not just as tricks to be performed. When this happens many Happy-Go-Lucky dogs will go through a very stubborn point. Don’t be discouraged! Continue working your Jack through this stage of learning. Once Jack realizes that commands are not optional, he will go back to being a happy and willing worker.

Fearful-This personality can be very challenging to work with. Why? If Lucy has this personality, then you will have many setbacks as well as successes. The key to helping Lucy is to remember to not dwell on a situation that has scared Lucy, but work through it and move on. Many of us unintentionally praise and encourage Lucy’s fearful tendencies. If Lucy is deathly afraid of the ducks at the park, don’t coddle her and tell her it is okay. To Lucy that is praising her fearful behavior. Instead, use your commands to raise her confidence level. Move Lucy to a distance that she is comfortable and use her commands to take her mind off of the scary object. Praise for nice Sits and Downs, and slowly work her back to the scary thing. Even though Lucy might still be timid, she is now being praised for her nice Sit instead of her fearful behavior.

Shy- Many shy dogs show excessive wariness towards new people, they might even be fearful of a person they have met many times. To remedy this, teach Ralph commands to raise his confidence level. Use your commands in the presence of new people. It is very important that Ralph is not allowed to pace or fret over the person. The longer Ralph paces and frets, the harder it is for him to get out of his fearful mindset. Instead, put Ralph’s leash on him when a new person comes over, keep him with you but do not console or coddle him. If he is afraid of the guest, then everyone needs to ignore him until he is more comfortable. If no one is paying attention to him, it will give him a chance to look and smell the new person and therefore grow comfortable with them.

Dominant- Dogs will fall into this category in varying degrees. Many dominant dogs only exhibit this behavior at home or in the presence of their humans. Others show dominant traits no matter the situation or people involved. Your dominant Chaco might try to push the family around by demanding petting, food, water, and other resources. If you think your dog might fall under the dominant category, consult a professional trainer before you begin to work with him. A dominant dog is usually very intelligent and makes a wonderful family companion once he understands his proper place in the family. He will protect his family and is smart enough to reason through problems and situations. Just remember even though Chaco is going to make a great family companion after training, he can be very difficult and even dangerous to handle without proper obedience training.

Basket Case- There are many reasons why a dog might fall  into this category. The most common is extreme neglect for an extended period of time. A basket case dog can be very challenging to work with. Many times, you have to teach little Angel how to be a dog before you can start training. For example, basket case dogs exhibit strange and unexpected behaviors. I have witnessed them not wanting to walk more than a couple of feet or not at all. They might be terrified of everyday objects and situations, and many times they resort to shutting down (refusing to acknowledge the outside world). Angel might completely freak out when taken outside or put on a leash. Even though Angel has extreme behavior issues, once you break through and connect with her, you will find a bond like no other! These dogs tend to recognize that you have saved them and little Angel will be your most loyal companion once she learns how to function wholly in the world.

Hyperactive- I am sure that many of you are pointing to this personality and saying a loud, “Yes, that is my dog!” Many small dogs and larger working breeds lean towards being hyperactive. A hyperactive dog seems to never tire, but instead the more they go the more excited and hyper they get. If your Calvin is a hyperactive dog, obedience and advanced training will help you calm your whirlwind of fur and paws. These hyperactive dogs need to exhaust their great supply of mental energy and obedience work is best way to do this. Including challenging obedience exercises on daily walks and interactions can teach your hyperactive dog how to control his endless energy.

As you are looking at your dog and trying to figure out her personality, remember that each dog is unique. Your dog might even show different personalities depending on the situation. No matter your dog’s personality, she can learn how to live and interact with her human pack (your family) in a happy and well-balanced manner. If your dog has a challenging personality, don’t give up. Many times these dogs are the ones that develop the greatest drive to please you and work with you.

Let me know if you have any questions or issues I can help you with!

Katie’s Dog Training offers private, in-home training sessions so that you can experience the loyalty and companionship that a well balanced dog offers. Even though she has graduated numerous training schools, the dogs themselves tend to be her most beneficial teachers. She and her husband share their home with three wonderful dogs, Luka, Jazzy and Honey as well as a crazy cat named D’Angelo.

Most of us have crazy schedules that seem to occupy all our time and energy. We all love our dogs and they are an irreplaceable part of the family. But because of busy schedules, many times, the dogs in our lives are given walks during the day and belly rubs at night, but are lacking something in between. What is lacking? A job and purpose in the family. Many times our dogs show us this lack of purpose through behavior issues such as excessive barking, chewing, or anxiety.

To treat this, for a week or two concentrate on including your dog in family activities. For most of us the challenging part is to find activities in which our dogs can participate. Good News! A long drive to the dog park is not always necessary. To your pooch, even the simple act of holding a sit while you do the dinner dishes can make her feel as if she is helping you and performing a job. Here are other ideas:

At first, have your dog on a 5 or 6 foot lead while you are teaching her how to play and showing her what is expected of her.

Dishes or Laundry Game: Play this game with the entire family. Whoever is washing the dishes or folding the laundry, gives the commands. Give each dish or article of clothing different basic commands. For example:

Plate=Sit

Cup=Down

Your goal for the game will depend on your dog’s skill level. For a puppy you will pick up a glass and ask for a sit. Once Stella sits – praise, reward, and release. For 6 month-old Walter, who has been practicing his stays during workouts, you will ask for a Sit, Stay, and don’t release until you are finished washing the glass.

Keep in mind that these are your goals. Your dog is not going to know how to play the game until you practice and show him the rules. When you first begin, you might only get half of the cup washed before you have to remind Walter that he is in a sit. Further, little Stella is a rambunctious puppy. It might take a few seconds before she stops bounding around long enough to think about sitting!

Check the Mail:

Instead of checking the mail on your way into the driveway, get Walter and work on his heel or loose lead walk to the mailbox. Have Walter then hold a sit a couple of feet away from the box. Step away from him to check the mail. Go back to Walter, praise, and release. Have Walter heel or loose lead walk all the way back to the house. Have him sit – praise and release.

Lastly, don’ t be discouraged if  your dog or puppy has trouble focusing. Remember that your dog looks to you for direction and guidance. With practice you will get more confident with your training and your dog will become more confident performing his commands. Your dog is proud to accomplish tasks and please you – give him the chance to do just that! The key to games and working with your dog is to always expand on what your dog already knows. So as you go though your day, ask yourself if there is a way that your dog could be included in your task!

Let me know you how you do.

Katie’s Dog Training offers private, in-home training sessions so that you can experience the loyalty and companionship that a well balanced dog offers. Even though she has graduated numerous training schools, the dogs themselves tend to be her most beneficial teachers. She and her husband share their home with three wonderful dogs, Luka, Jazzy and Honey as well as a crazy cat named D’Angelo.

Many people are including their furry family members in their summer vacation plans. Where to go and what to see are determined by pet friendly hotels and shopping centers. It can be very rewarding to include your dog on your summer getaway! You can practice the following training tips to have a safer and more relaxing vacation.

First, make sure that little Lucy has her ID and rabies tag attached to her collar. Many people, who would have otherwise driven by, will stop and pick up a lost dog if they see shiny tags hanging from her collar. In addition, have your dog micro-chipped in case she slips out of her collar and becomes separated from the family.

One of the most common vacation disasters is Lucy slipping out of the car door at a rest stop or hotel. You might say that your dog would never run away, however, remember that you are in a strange place with new smells and scary noises. To help with this, be sure she knows a “Wait” or “Stay” command before getting out of the car. Teach and practice this command long before the big day comes. Here are a few simple steps to help your dog learn this practical command.

• With your dog’s leash on, ask her to get in the car with an “Up” or “Let’s Go.”
• When your dog is in the car, tell her to “Wait.” Keep the door open during this step.
• Stand at the open door and reinforce the “Wait” command. Don’t let Lucy dart out of the car. If she does, tell her no and have her back in the car.
• Release her with an “All Done” command and praise her as she gets out of the car.

Repeat the steps. After a few practice runs, tell Lucy to “Wait” and back up a step. Be ready for her to dart out when she sees you moving. Quickly step forward and block her progress. Tell her again to “Wait.” Your goal is to be able to back up a few feet and Lucy stay in the car waiting for her release command. As your dog masters the Wait command, practice it with the door shut and Lucy in the car on her own (Remember never leave Lucy alone in the car for more than a few seconds).

Another common vacation pitfall is Lucy being asked to leave the hotel or campground because of barking (how embarrassing, right?). She thinks that all the little critters in the campground are scary and of course it is her job to chase them off. Also, she might expect everyone who passes your hotel door to stop and say hi. After a couple of hours of barking you quickly realize that the only options are to go home early or try to find a kennel that can care for Lucy (this can be close to impossible in many busy vacation areas). Teaching Lucy a “Quiet” command will save you from these situations.  Again start at home many weeks before your planned vacation and you will be fine.

To teach Lucy her “Quiet” command you will need a can of pennies or a water spray bottle.

• When Lucy begins barking, tell her once, “Quiet.”
• Quietly praise her if she stops on the first command.
• If she continues, shake the can filled with pennies or spray Lucy with the water bottle. Tell her “No. Quiet.”

Practice these steps in situations that cause Lucy to bark – such as the doorbell ringing or the mailman walking by. You will find that Lucy begins to stop barking with the first “Quiet” command.

If you utilize lots of practice and practice early, you will find yourself on a relaxing vacation with a well-mannered dog!

Feel free to let me know if you have any dog training questions!

Katie’s Dog Training offers private, in-home training sessions so that you can experience the loyalty and companionship that a well balanced dog offers. Even though she has graduated numerous training schools, the dogs themselves tend to be her most beneficial teachers. She and her husband share their home with three wonderful dogs, Luka, Jazzy and Honey as well as a crazy cat named D’Angelo.

Housetraining, or lack of housetraining, is one of the reasons that wonderful dogs end up in shelters or rescues. Whether your dog is a puppy or adult, don’t give up. With consistency and patience she can learn the proper potty etiquette! Where to start? Housetraining your pup or older dog begins with a crate or “House” as your pup will come to know it.

To your puppy her crate is her den. It’s a place where she can go to get away from all of the stress and stimulation of the busy and confusing human world. Your puppy’s crate is a place where she cannot harm herself or your house. How big should your puppy’s personal house be?  Purchase a crate that your puppy is able to comfortably stand, turn around, and lay down in. Be cautious to not get a mansion of a crate or she will potty in one end and sleep in the other. For a puppy that is going to grow very quickly, a wire crate with a divider is a good idea.

Now that your puppy has her own house you can start training her to potty outside. To keep things simpler, keep your dog or puppy on a feed and water schedule. You have to know what went in to know what is going to come out! If you are not able to supervise your pup or dog, put her in her house; this will keep her from having accidents that you are not able to catch.

One of the wonderful things about a dog is that they can learn commands for anything they do, including potty!  Take your pup (on a leash) to the same spot each time and tell her to “Go Potty.” If she is distracted give a little tug with the lead and tell her “No, go Potty.” Keep her moving. The first few times that you go to her potty spot and are successful, give lots of praise. Make Suzy think that she is the most amazing dog in the world (she is right!). You can tone down the praise as she shows consistent success.

I understand that you don’t have all day to wait around for Suzy’s morning constitutions. If she is goofing off and hasn’t gone potty in about 10 minutes, put her in her house for 15 minutes then try again. Keep in mind she gets absolutely no free time until she has gone potty. And now that you have taught little Suzy a new command “go potty,” you can teach her that you do not like it inside.

If little Suzy is going potty on the living room rug, first of all don’t panic! Clap your hands or rattle a can full of pennies and say, “No. Bad potty.” Walk over to her and scold, “Bad potty.” (Be sure that you are not rushing little Suzy like a linebacker!) After you soak up some of the potty, immediately take Suzy to her potty spot outside and let her smell there. Praise, “Good potty!” This will let Suzy know that potty is okay; you just don’t like it inside.

Remember, it’s very important to take her outside after scolding her for the accident. Why? If Suzy gets confused and decides that you don’t like potty at all, then she will resort to sneaking. This leads to an entire new set of problems – like finding a week old poop behind the couch. Yuck. If you have an older dog that is struggling with housetraining, then you are probably seeing this behavior. If so, keep the leash on him when he is in the house. This will make it easier for you to keep him from sneaking off. You can even tether Cooper to a strong sturdy object, such as the kitchen table – but only if you are in the same room to supervise him. Put Cooper in his house or with another family member while you clean the spot. It is best if he does not see you cleaning up his mess.

I know housetraining can be very frustrating. Just stay positive and remember how much you love your dog … as you clean up the third poop of the day! If you continue to have trouble, let me know and we can tackle it together!

Also, leave your dog training questions in the below comments and I will choose one each month to answer!

Katie’s Dog Training offers private, in-home training sessions so that you can experience the loyalty and companionship that a well balanced dog offers. Even though she has graduated numerous training schools, the dogs themselves tend to be her most beneficial teachers. She and her husband share their home with three wonderful dogs, Luka, Jazzy and Honey as well as a crazy cat named D’Angelo.

Have you recently added a puppy to your family, or are you visiting shelters trying to find your perfect puppy? Spring is just around the corner and is a wonderful time to raise a puppy. The weather is getting warmer and there will be plenty of opportunities to take your puppy out to socialize and learn the ways of the world. Puppies are exciting and fun, but they are also a lot of work. In the next few weeks, your puppy will develop his personality and temperament, and there are things that you can do to help your new family member grow into happy well-balanced dog!

First things first, socialize your puppy to help him gain confidence and learn good behavior. You are probably looking at your puppy running around the house, thinking to yourself, “Gain confidence? My puppy is full of confidence!” You are probably right. Your puppy is quite confident and comfortable at home, but how will he do in strange and unfamiliar situations? There is only one way to find out: go many places and do many things to help your Jack learn how to be a confident and polite puppy!

Don’t be afraid to show him off! He is very cute, and he will only be a puppy once. Let different people handle him and give him treats. Take Jack to at least 3 new places every week, and walk him on different surfaces-grass, gravel, sand, and pavement. I am sure you have seen a dog put on the brakes at the vet or at a pet store when asked to walk across a shiny floor. You can avoid this by showing your pup as many different surfaces a possible. Look for all sorts of new things to introduce Jack to (make it a game!). Places like an empty playground can become a wonderful obstacle course with many surfaces. Having a puppy gives you a wonderful reason to have fun.

Do you know who loves puppies? Kids! Walk him near playgrounds. Many puppies naturally love children, but to some pups children can be very strange and scary. Let Jack have positive interactions with children to help him learn there is nothing to fear. Give Jack a few treats and lots of praise when kids are petting him. Remember that when walking near children, keep your distance at first and slowly work up to being petted by multiple children.

If your puppy appears frightened while you are out exploring, don’t coddle. Let him take a good long look at whatever is frightening. Use treats and lots of motivation “Atta Boy” to help him get closer to a scary leaf or that suspicious looking grocery bag. Approach the place or thing repeatedly until your puppy is no longer frightened. This will teach your pup how to deal with scary situations which is an essential skill that will be handy throughout Jack’s life as he matures and encounters new and exciting things.

Your puppy will grow and mature in leaps and bounds over the next few months. There will be challenging times as your pup matures, but those are far outweighed by the good. Stay consistent and positive, and above all remember to HAVE FUN!

Have questions about training your puppy? Leave them in the comments below and I’ll pick one question to answer next month!

Katie’s Dog Training offers private, in-home training sessions so that you can experience the loyalty and companionship that a well balanced dog offers. Even though she has graduated numerous training schools, the dogs themselves tend to be her most beneficial teachers. She and her husband share their home with three wonderful dogs, Luka, Jazzy and Honey as well as a crazy cat named D’Angelo.

You might find yourself looking at your dog asking her the overwhelming question of, “Where do I start helping you learn better behavior?” Well I say congratulations – you have already started! By asking that question, you have made the first step towards a better relationship with your dog! Amidst all the confusing dog training books and online information, where do you start teaching your dog good behavior?

The Answer: Focus is first. I am sure that you have seen an owner at a park or even in a pet store that is calling their dog’s name Sam, Sam stop that, Sam don’t do that, Sam listen to me!! (Maybe you are that owner, and that’s okay. A dog or her owner is never too old to learn new things!) Meanwhile, the ignored owner is either raising her voice every time Sam’s name is called, or you are now hearing the pleading tone she has resorted to using. What is Sam doing during this yelling and pleading? Why she is enthusiastically rearranging (chewing and de-stuffing!) all the toys on the lower shelf or she is happily running amuck at the park! What is the cause of all this wild, embarrassing behavior your beloved pooch is exhibiting? Your pup has developed selective hearing of course! What causes selective hearing? Lack of Focus. Now the next question is, how do you avoid being the lady in the store paying for an entire display of toys (Sam is going to be set for a long time!) or the man trying desperately to catch Sam at the park in the rain?

Focus work is something even the busiest of us can find the time to work on. Here is our goal with Focus: you want your dog to eagerly look towards you when she hears her name. This might sound very simple and straightforward, but the key is to get this response anytime and anywhere. It is always important to remember that behaviors must be mastered on leash before you can expect that behavior off- leash. To develop your dog’s focus, start with her on a 6 foot lead, either inside or outside. Let you dog wander and get distracted. When you notice she is looking off into the distance call her name in an upbeat but firm voice, Sam. At the same time, give her a tug with the lead and right when she turns to look at you give her lots of praise, Good Sam or Yes Sam. Also, have a treat ready. Your goal is eye contact – if your dog is not looking up at you, then there is no focus. To get eye contact, call her name, and give the tug. When she turns, show her a treat and bring it up towards your eyes. You will see her eyes flick between your eyes and the treat. When she looks at you praise and give her the treat. Repeat this a few times until she is turning and looking at you immediately (with help from the tug). Once you have accomplished this, you can remove the tug. Now call her name and see if she turns without the help from the leash. If she does – lots of praise and a treat. If not, be quick to help her with the tug and practice until you are not having to tug and treat every time. Lastly, start replacing your treats with praise only; give a treat only every 3^rd or 4^th time. Practice this in as many different places as possible and you will be proofing. Use your walks as a time to practice – we all know there are lots of distractions during a walk! If you find your dog is having a hard time focusing in a certain area, then try it somewhere with fewer distractions. Then work your way back toward the challenging area. Stay consistent and have fun! Focus work is a great way to bond with your dog and to build a great working relationship. If you find that you are having trouble getting your dog to focus or there are other issues that keep you from taking her out in public, then give me a call and we can work on it together!

Katie’s Dog Training offers private, in-home training sessions so that you can experience the loyalty and companionship that a well balanced dog offers. Even though she has graduated numerous training schools, the dogs themselves tend to be her most beneficial teachers. She and her husband share their home with three wonderful dogs, Luka, Jazzy and Honey as well as a crazy cat named D’Angelo.