Every year I buy a pumpkin for Halloween. After the holiday, I cut it in half. I remove the seeds for me. Roasted pumpkin seeds! Yum! Then I slice the pumpkin, cut it into chunks, and remove the skins. It’s a pumpkin prep assembly line. I get lots of audience participation. Dobermann Luigi supervises the pumpkin prep work. After all, he needs the pumpkin most of all during the year and wants to make sure it’s done right. Dobermanns take {Read More}
Dogs Who Cover and Eat Poop
November 20, 2013 by
Some behaviors in dogs are built in. They are there from generations of breeding. These behaviors don’t require dog training to initiate. They show up when something triggers them. For example, I had a Dobermann named Bouchard who visited a friend’s house several times before he noticed the waves against the sea wall in her back yard were something to chase. Once that drive to chase the waves was triggered, he would run back and forth on the sea wall {Read More}
Hol-ee Roller Treat Ball For Dogs
November 19, 2013 by
This is a video I ran across with a very good idea for a rather inexpensive dog toy that works two ways. One, it’s a treat dispenser but only after two, the dog destuffs the toy. You’ll need to cut up some fabric, fleece would be perfect, in small lengths. Before stuffing them into the ball, roll a treat inside each strip. One at a time, roll the treat into the strip, stuff the strip into the ball. Then let {Read More}
A Nose Game for Dogs Fort Lauderdale
November 18, 2013 by
One of the nose games I play with my dogs is to pop a pot of popcorn, then go out into the backyard, and plant the popped kernels all over the place. In grass, in toys, under empty upside-down flower pots, on lawn chairs, on lawn chair arm rests, in planters, palm trees, on tables, their dog walk, fence posts, on branches of bushes, etc. The main thing is that I plant the treats on the ground, at and above {Read More}
6 Tips To Get A Loose Dog To Come
November 17, 2013 by
If your dog isn’t trained to come when called, and he’s gotten away from you, the first thing is to call his name, in a high-pitched, sweet voice. Do not get angry or let your dog know you’re angry even if you are. That will send him away from you and if this happens again, he’ll remember. If he doesn’t come, here are a few things to try. 1 – Squat down to your dog’s level and call him playfully. {Read More}
Dog Training on Location in Broward County
November 16, 2013 by
When training dogs, there are puzzle pieces to the entire behavior I as a Broward county professional dog trainer focus on during a dog training session. In the dog training profession, these puzzle pieces are called parameters. And within parameters are criteria, the standards of behavior the dog is to meet each step of the way on the training plan. Parameter puzzle pieces are comprised of such things as duration of a behavior, the distance the dog works away from the {Read More}
Fort Lauderdale Dog Training in the Bathtub
November 15, 2013 by
Dogs need to learn to like taking baths as much as learn to like their fur being brushed, nails being trimmed, or ears being cleaned. The training process to provide a dog with pleasant experiences being bathed will provide the dog parent with a dog who’ll give years of steady and calm participation at bath time. A Booster Bath is a back-saving bathtub dog parents can use for their dogs that can be set up outside or inside, if you {Read More}
Broward County Dog Training
November 14, 2013 by
Today I wanted to share a cute comic as so many of us take our role as dog parents seriously, as well we should. Bringing up a dog, whether a dog that’s a rescue and already into adulthood and may not have had dog training or enough dog training prior to his adoption, or a puppy, or even a senior, is important work. Bravo to all of you who do that! By Helen Verte Certified Pet Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed, Certified {Read More}
Reasons To Crate Train Your Dog
November 13, 2013 by
Why is crate training your dog important? There are many reasons to crate train your dog and even to have that crate set up in the house 24/7. Den – Your dog will find his crate a place to curl into when he wants alone time or to chew on a food toy or Nylabone. Or you can keep a crate in your bedroom for him to sleep in at night. That way you can hear him if he needs {Read More}
Housetraining Broward County Fort Lauderdale
November 12, 2013 by
Some dogs can be housetrained quite easily and seem to catch on quickly. Others may require more adherence to a housetraining training plan. That doesn’t mean either type of dog is good or bad; it just means they’re different. That’s where Housetraining 123 comes to the rescue! Love Wags A Tail has several ways to help clients with housetraining their dogs. The Housetraining 123 Webinar is economical and spells out in detail the steps to take to housetrain a dog. Any {Read More}
Managing Dog Behaviors Broward County, Fort Lauderdale
November 11, 2013 by
Some dogs have behaviors that their owners find offensive. It’s not a fault of either, but more like a clash of cultures in the animal kingdom. Take for example, one of my dogs, who happens to be a herding breed, and pictured on the home page of my website. She has several behavioral fetishes which clash with my liking. Among them, she chews holes in my sheets and pillow cases, as well as buries favorite dog toys, such as the {Read More}
Is Jerky Safe For Dogs?
November 10, 2013 by
A lot of dogs have died needlessly because of jerky treats. Treats! Dogs are dying from the treats we give them! Think about that. And it’s not just the jerky from China or just the meat jerky. I’ve run across an article of recent, The Problem With Dogs and Jerky Treats, and posted excerpts below. Though I used to boycott jerky from China, and meat jerky only, now I’m boycottting any jerky. There are plenty of other treats to use. {Read More}
Clicker Training Dogs Broward County
November 9, 2013 by
When a dog trainer sets criteria with a dog during a dog training session, and the dog performs the criteria, the trainer uses a marker word or clicker to signify that the criteria was complete. The word or sound is a bridge, which tells the dog that he was right and reinforcement is on the way. Some trainers say that the click ends the behavior. And that’s true, but there’s a but. The click ends the behavior, or the contract {Read More}
“Just Right” Dog Training Treats
November 7, 2013 by
Tonight, I worked with a client’s 5-month old pup. Jumping on people was the behavior we needed to change. I’d told her to save his evening meal for our dog training session, and she did. But when we started the session, he was not the least bit interested in his kibble. And we were getting no where fast. His motivation to jump on me was much more rewarding than the possibility of getting a piece of his same ol’ kibble. {Read More}
Use Your Cues
November 6, 2013 by
I was with a client last weekend who was about to put a head halter on her dog. He was moving off to the side, engrossed in something, and my client reached for him and began to struggle. So I said, “Use your cue. Cue him to sit.” And she did. And he did. And the head halter was put on with a slide of the strap over the muzzle, a treat, and a snap of the clasp. Then we {Read More}
