Hello PACmembers...
Since I know you are all very busy with rewarding good behavior and timeouts I am going to just add a little extra info today.
Meal times are an important part of your dog's life and should be a consistent, daily ritual. Your dog should be fed twice daily and never be allowed free feed (leaving food out all day).
The first meal should be in the morning after your dog has relieved himself and AFTER he has been exercised. Place the food in a clean bowl (the exact amount listed on the pet food bag) then ask him to sit. After five seconds direct him to go inside his kennel. The food should be placed inside the kennel first. Then the dog is directed in and the door shut. Give your dog exactly 20 minutes to eat then remove the food whether or not he has eaten. If your dog has his head in the bowl eating you should allow him to finish.
The next feeding should be approximately 10 hours later (in the evening) and done in roughly the same fashion. Again, allow your dog to relieve himself, make sure he receives at least 45 minutes of strenuous exercise, and then allow 15-20 minutes of cool down time. After exercise measure out the food and place it in the bowl. Command your dog to sit in front of his kennel for 5 seconds. Keep him in the sit until he is calm. Place the food in the kennel and direct the dog inside. Close the kennel and allow 20 minutes for him to consume his food. As with the morning feeding, remove the food after 20 minutes whether he’s finished or not.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Do not remove the food if your dog is actually in the process of eating.
Always feed your dog in his kennel. The food should be placed in the kennel prior to him entering so that twice each day there is a treat waiting for him when he enters.
Some dogs may go as long as 5-6 days with out eating at the start of this program. If your dog is not eating do not offer any treats or other food throughout the day. He must learn to eat the food offered.
Don't interact at all with your dog while he's eating. Do not steal your dog's food while he is eating. Feeding time should be peaceful and without interruption.
Without exception, feed your dog super-premium food such as Innova, Eagle Pack, or Raw Diet.
That's all for today. I have been receiving e-mails with questions about the program. Please post all questions as comments so that everyone can benefit.
On a side note, we now offers the first DNA-based diagnostic test that can genetically determine the breed composition of your dog. The cost is $100 and the test is 99.9% accurate. Shoot me and email if you would like to order a test.
Have a great day...your dog is!
www.petathleticclub.com
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Correcting Negative Behavior
Hello PACmembers....
The most common question I get asked is "What do I do when my dog....?" You can end that phrase with just about anything you want (i.e. jumps on me, nips, chews on something...). The answer is simple - replace the behavior, and then separate the dog from the situation.
Yesterday we talked about how to reward positive behavior, and I still want that to be your focus, but it's only fair if we let the dog know when he has done something wrong as well. As an example, imagine trying to learn to drive, but the only communication you got from the instructor was when you did something right....you would end up in a lot of accidents.
So to prevent these "accidents" in dog training we you TIMEOUTS. First, I am going to explain how to implement timeouts, and once that is clear I will explain very briefly why they work.
Here is the procedure:
The first thing you and your family need to do is pick a correction word. It can be anything you want except for the dogs name or the word "NO". We don't use the dogs name because we want the name to be something positive, and we do not use the word "NO" because it is to readily heard in everyday conversation (especially if you have kids). Some good options are "bad", "stop", "aah aah", "foohee", "nine", or "wrong". You can use any word, and as long as everyone uses the same word it will not effect the training. In our examples we will use the word "bad".
Now how to we teach the meaning of the correction word....
When you catch your dog doing something wrong, pull out your no nonsense tone of voice and use your correction word..."bad". Then immediately replace to the negative behavior with something positive. When you are just starting this process I recommend a chew toy for ALL negative behaviors. (You will be amazed what a dog CAN'T do when he has something in his mouth.) Stick the toy directly into the dogs mouth. Most dogs new to this sequence are going to spit out the toy and go right back to what they were doing. This time, use the correction word..."bad", calmly grab the dog by his collar, and walk him into his crate. Close the door, and walk away, out of the dogs line of sight, for about 60-90 seconds. Then come back, let him out, and start the whole process over again. (This last part was the timeout ;-)
Here's an example:
I walk into the room and Toby is chewing on the table leg. I immediately say "bad", and I stick the nearest toy directly into his mouth. Toby drops the toy and heads straight back to chewing on the table leg. This time I say the correction word..."Bad", and I CALMLY grab him by the collar and lead him into his crate. I step out of the room for 60 seconds, and then I come back and let him out.
That is all there is to it. You can use timeouts to solve just about any problem you maybe having (nipping, chewing, jumping, etc.). I recommend keeping a sheet of paper and a pen nearby so you can make little check marks when you do timeouts. That way over the course of a couple weeks you will see the check markers dwindle each day, and know that you are making progress.
I can already hear what you are thinking...."I thought we weren't supposed to use the crate for punishment?". You are right. Here is the difference...as long as you are calm when putting your dog in the crate, the crate is not the punishment. The punishment is the separation from you and from the situation. This process will actually improve your dogs crate training as making frequent trips in/out of the crate will cause him to become more comfortable with it.
How do you know when this is working? The answer is two fold. First, observe your dog when you use the correction word. Does he start searching for a toy? This shows he understands that he needs to replace the negative behavior or he will have to go be by himself. Second, if you are doing fewer timeouts each day, that should mean you are seeing less negative behavior which means the timeouts are working. Or, maybe you are just being lazy and need to step it up....
Why do timeouts work?
First, it is important to understand that timeouts fall under the operant conditioning quadrant of negative punishment. Meaning you are taking something away to diminish a behavior. We teach the dog that when he demonstrates a negative behavior he is removed from the situation and must be by himself. This is obviously unpleasant for the dog so the behavior begins to diminish. One important key to OUR timeouts is the attempt at replacing the behavior. I always want to be fair so I give the dog a chance to do was is right prior to punishment. But I only give that chance one time.
Today, start implementing your timeouts. Continue rewarding all positive behavior with treats. Next thing you know you'll have a well behaved dog because now you are communicating consistently and clearly!
Good Luck. I always get tons of questions on this topic so please don't be shy.
Have a great day....your dog is!
www.petathleticclub.com
The most common question I get asked is "What do I do when my dog....?" You can end that phrase with just about anything you want (i.e. jumps on me, nips, chews on something...). The answer is simple - replace the behavior, and then separate the dog from the situation.
Yesterday we talked about how to reward positive behavior, and I still want that to be your focus, but it's only fair if we let the dog know when he has done something wrong as well. As an example, imagine trying to learn to drive, but the only communication you got from the instructor was when you did something right....you would end up in a lot of accidents.
So to prevent these "accidents" in dog training we you TIMEOUTS. First, I am going to explain how to implement timeouts, and once that is clear I will explain very briefly why they work.
Here is the procedure:
The first thing you and your family need to do is pick a correction word. It can be anything you want except for the dogs name or the word "NO". We don't use the dogs name because we want the name to be something positive, and we do not use the word "NO" because it is to readily heard in everyday conversation (especially if you have kids). Some good options are "bad", "stop", "aah aah", "foohee", "nine", or "wrong". You can use any word, and as long as everyone uses the same word it will not effect the training. In our examples we will use the word "bad".
Now how to we teach the meaning of the correction word....
When you catch your dog doing something wrong, pull out your no nonsense tone of voice and use your correction word..."bad". Then immediately replace to the negative behavior with something positive. When you are just starting this process I recommend a chew toy for ALL negative behaviors. (You will be amazed what a dog CAN'T do when he has something in his mouth.) Stick the toy directly into the dogs mouth. Most dogs new to this sequence are going to spit out the toy and go right back to what they were doing. This time, use the correction word..."bad", calmly grab the dog by his collar, and walk him into his crate. Close the door, and walk away, out of the dogs line of sight, for about 60-90 seconds. Then come back, let him out, and start the whole process over again. (This last part was the timeout ;-)
Here's an example:
I walk into the room and Toby is chewing on the table leg. I immediately say "bad", and I stick the nearest toy directly into his mouth. Toby drops the toy and heads straight back to chewing on the table leg. This time I say the correction word..."Bad", and I CALMLY grab him by the collar and lead him into his crate. I step out of the room for 60 seconds, and then I come back and let him out.
That is all there is to it. You can use timeouts to solve just about any problem you maybe having (nipping, chewing, jumping, etc.). I recommend keeping a sheet of paper and a pen nearby so you can make little check marks when you do timeouts. That way over the course of a couple weeks you will see the check markers dwindle each day, and know that you are making progress.
I can already hear what you are thinking...."I thought we weren't supposed to use the crate for punishment?". You are right. Here is the difference...as long as you are calm when putting your dog in the crate, the crate is not the punishment. The punishment is the separation from you and from the situation. This process will actually improve your dogs crate training as making frequent trips in/out of the crate will cause him to become more comfortable with it.
How do you know when this is working? The answer is two fold. First, observe your dog when you use the correction word. Does he start searching for a toy? This shows he understands that he needs to replace the negative behavior or he will have to go be by himself. Second, if you are doing fewer timeouts each day, that should mean you are seeing less negative behavior which means the timeouts are working. Or, maybe you are just being lazy and need to step it up....
Why do timeouts work?
First, it is important to understand that timeouts fall under the operant conditioning quadrant of negative punishment. Meaning you are taking something away to diminish a behavior. We teach the dog that when he demonstrates a negative behavior he is removed from the situation and must be by himself. This is obviously unpleasant for the dog so the behavior begins to diminish. One important key to OUR timeouts is the attempt at replacing the behavior. I always want to be fair so I give the dog a chance to do was is right prior to punishment. But I only give that chance one time.
Today, start implementing your timeouts. Continue rewarding all positive behavior with treats. Next thing you know you'll have a well behaved dog because now you are communicating consistently and clearly!
Good Luck. I always get tons of questions on this topic so please don't be shy.
Have a great day....your dog is!
www.petathleticclub.com
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
And so it begins....
Hello PACmembers....
Let me start off by saying I sincerely apologize for getting started with this training program behind schedule. With the holiday weekend behind us now...it is time to get down to business.
I want you to start by forgetting everything your dog has ever done, and give your dog a clean slate. I can assure you that the majority of your dogs mistakes, in one way or another, were caused by you. So since you are starting over with your training (or just beginning) let your dog start over too.
There are three keys to achieving a well behaved dog.
1) EXERCISE - This can easily be achieved by bringing your dog to the PAC 3-5 times per week. Check out our website (www.petathleticclub.com) to learn more about PACtivity (Daycare). If you can not bring your dog in then it is up to you to achieve the exercise. Check out http://www.petathleticclub.com/training/exercise.shtm to learn how to exercise your dog properly.
2) OBEDIENCE - This is what you will learn in the program. Obedience is about communication. If we can communicate with our dogs as to what we want done, and then offer some motivation, the dog will execute our request.
3) CARE - This key includes love & affection, grooming, shelter, food, water, etc...basically all of you dogs basic needs.
Achieve these three things, with the right balance, and you will have the dog you have always dreamed of.
For the next few weeks we will be focusing on obedience. Some of CARE will be covered in the process as well. Alright, lets get started.
The most important thing in training a dog is teaching him what is right. We spend most of our time correcting our dogs when they do something wrong, and so this is when they are getting all of our attention. Basically the opposite of what we should be doing. Think about it this way. The list of things the dog can do wrong is endless. He can pee on the carpet, chew a table leg, dig a whole, chew a child's toy, jump on you, bark at you, nip your clothes, climb on the furniture, dig at the carpet, pull on the leash, chew up a book...I can go on and on and on and on.
The list of things we WANT our dog to do is pretty short in the scheme of things. We want him to sit when greeted, chew only on his own toys, walk nicely by our side, come when called, and lay nicely at our feet when we want to relax. That is it. If your dog is always doing one of the positive behaviors he can not perform the negative behaviors at the same time. You'll learn why this is so important over the course of this week.
So, how do we achieve these positive behaviors? Well, it is easy and fun for both you and the dog. I want you to select a motivational training treat, and cut it into pieces about the size of your pinkie nail. Smaller if you have a smaller dog. The treats should be soft, small, and very flavorful. No kibble, no milk bones, or anything else that takes long to chew or is particularly bland. Take about 30 of these tiny treats and put them in a Ziploc bag and put them in your pocket.
Over the next 7 days, every time your dog performs a positive behavior on his own I want you to reward him. Every time your dog performs a behavior that you would like to see again, reward that behavior. It is important to reward the behavior at the exact moment he performs it...not before...not after...it must be right at that moment. Timing is key.
Here are a few examples...
If you are in the kitchen cooking and the dog walks into the room and sits down quietly...reward that behavior. If you walk into the room and find your dog chewing on a toy that belongs to him...reward that behavior. If you come home from work and the dog greets you calmly...reward that behavior. Reward any behavior that you would like to see again....no matter how small the behavior maybe...if you want to see it again, you must reward it.
Remember this rule, DOGS DO WHAT WORKS!
Everything your dog does is motivated by something. When you start actively motivating him to demonstrate the behavior you want to see your dog will be better behaved. Over the course of this week you are going to see a huge increase in the number of positive behaviors your dog demonstrates and a huge decrease in the negative ones. Remember, they can't do them both at the same time.
The two main things I want you to take away from today's lesson are 1) DOGS DO WHAT WORKS! 2) For the next 7 days reward all the good behavior your dog demonstrates. Reward anything you want to see again. Reread today's lesson a few times. Although it seems simple, this is one of the pillars of training.
Feel free to leave questions in the comments section. I will check in through out the day to answer them.
Until tomorrow...
Good Luck and have a great day...your dog is!
www.petathleticclub.com
Let me start off by saying I sincerely apologize for getting started with this training program behind schedule. With the holiday weekend behind us now...it is time to get down to business.
I want you to start by forgetting everything your dog has ever done, and give your dog a clean slate. I can assure you that the majority of your dogs mistakes, in one way or another, were caused by you. So since you are starting over with your training (or just beginning) let your dog start over too.
There are three keys to achieving a well behaved dog.
1) EXERCISE - This can easily be achieved by bringing your dog to the PAC 3-5 times per week. Check out our website (www.petathleticclub.com) to learn more about PACtivity (Daycare). If you can not bring your dog in then it is up to you to achieve the exercise. Check out http://www.petathleticclub.com/training/exercise.shtm to learn how to exercise your dog properly.
2) OBEDIENCE - This is what you will learn in the program. Obedience is about communication. If we can communicate with our dogs as to what we want done, and then offer some motivation, the dog will execute our request.
3) CARE - This key includes love & affection, grooming, shelter, food, water, etc...basically all of you dogs basic needs.
Achieve these three things, with the right balance, and you will have the dog you have always dreamed of.
For the next few weeks we will be focusing on obedience. Some of CARE will be covered in the process as well. Alright, lets get started.
The most important thing in training a dog is teaching him what is right. We spend most of our time correcting our dogs when they do something wrong, and so this is when they are getting all of our attention. Basically the opposite of what we should be doing. Think about it this way. The list of things the dog can do wrong is endless. He can pee on the carpet, chew a table leg, dig a whole, chew a child's toy, jump on you, bark at you, nip your clothes, climb on the furniture, dig at the carpet, pull on the leash, chew up a book...I can go on and on and on and on.
The list of things we WANT our dog to do is pretty short in the scheme of things. We want him to sit when greeted, chew only on his own toys, walk nicely by our side, come when called, and lay nicely at our feet when we want to relax. That is it. If your dog is always doing one of the positive behaviors he can not perform the negative behaviors at the same time. You'll learn why this is so important over the course of this week.
So, how do we achieve these positive behaviors? Well, it is easy and fun for both you and the dog. I want you to select a motivational training treat, and cut it into pieces about the size of your pinkie nail. Smaller if you have a smaller dog. The treats should be soft, small, and very flavorful. No kibble, no milk bones, or anything else that takes long to chew or is particularly bland. Take about 30 of these tiny treats and put them in a Ziploc bag and put them in your pocket.
Over the next 7 days, every time your dog performs a positive behavior on his own I want you to reward him. Every time your dog performs a behavior that you would like to see again, reward that behavior. It is important to reward the behavior at the exact moment he performs it...not before...not after...it must be right at that moment. Timing is key.
Here are a few examples...
If you are in the kitchen cooking and the dog walks into the room and sits down quietly...reward that behavior. If you walk into the room and find your dog chewing on a toy that belongs to him...reward that behavior. If you come home from work and the dog greets you calmly...reward that behavior. Reward any behavior that you would like to see again....no matter how small the behavior maybe...if you want to see it again, you must reward it.
Remember this rule, DOGS DO WHAT WORKS!
Everything your dog does is motivated by something. When you start actively motivating him to demonstrate the behavior you want to see your dog will be better behaved. Over the course of this week you are going to see a huge increase in the number of positive behaviors your dog demonstrates and a huge decrease in the negative ones. Remember, they can't do them both at the same time.
The two main things I want you to take away from today's lesson are 1) DOGS DO WHAT WORKS! 2) For the next 7 days reward all the good behavior your dog demonstrates. Reward anything you want to see again. Reread today's lesson a few times. Although it seems simple, this is one of the pillars of training.
Feel free to leave questions in the comments section. I will check in through out the day to answer them.
Until tomorrow...
Good Luck and have a great day...your dog is!
www.petathleticclub.com
Friday, May 25, 2007
World's First FREE Online Obedience Program!
Hello PACmembers!
I am offering the first free online obedience program. The way this will work is, each day, there will be a new lesson offered, with explanations of what and how to practice, to achieve the obedient, balanced dog you have always wanted.
Most of you are already on the right track by bringing your dog to PACtivity 3+ times a week. This is the best way to drain energy and stress and achieve that balance that we are going for. There is always more that can be done to improve obedience in your dog, and that is what these lessons will help you to understand.
The first week or so of the training course will be getting through the orientation. We are going to cover basics like rewarding good behavior, disciplining bad behavior, crate training, potty training, nutrition, grooming, vet care, the 5 minute rule, proper exercise, proper feeding schedule, timing & consistency etc.
In the following weeks we will begin working on obedience. We will cover sit, down, stay, come, walking on a loose leash, leave it, settle, wait, stand, and a few tricks that will be fun for you and your dog.
All of the obedience work will be strictly positive reinforcement based. Those of you that have worked with me may know that I am not a strictly positive reinforcement (+R) trainer, but I think it is careless to teach correction based methods over the Internet. Correction based methods should only be taught in person with a very experienced trainer. One of the greatest benefits to +R training is that it is VERY hard to screw up your dog during the process. If you follow a few basic guidelines your dog is guaranteed to come out better behaved.
If you are struggling with any of the steps of the training or have questions about explanations, I encourage you to post them publicly in the comments section. I assure you other people involved have the EXACT same questions. So don't be shy! The more people that participate the more everyone will get out of it. I have set up a way for you to post anonymously if you do not want to divulge your identity.
I hope everyone enjoys this program. It should be fun, relaxed and easy to master!
I can't wait to get started.
The first portion of the orientation will be posted tomorrow. You will learn how to encourage and see an immediate increase in your dogs positive behavior!
www.petathleticclub.com
I am offering the first free online obedience program. The way this will work is, each day, there will be a new lesson offered, with explanations of what and how to practice, to achieve the obedient, balanced dog you have always wanted.
Most of you are already on the right track by bringing your dog to PACtivity 3+ times a week. This is the best way to drain energy and stress and achieve that balance that we are going for. There is always more that can be done to improve obedience in your dog, and that is what these lessons will help you to understand.
The first week or so of the training course will be getting through the orientation. We are going to cover basics like rewarding good behavior, disciplining bad behavior, crate training, potty training, nutrition, grooming, vet care, the 5 minute rule, proper exercise, proper feeding schedule, timing & consistency etc.
In the following weeks we will begin working on obedience. We will cover sit, down, stay, come, walking on a loose leash, leave it, settle, wait, stand, and a few tricks that will be fun for you and your dog.
All of the obedience work will be strictly positive reinforcement based. Those of you that have worked with me may know that I am not a strictly positive reinforcement (+R) trainer, but I think it is careless to teach correction based methods over the Internet. Correction based methods should only be taught in person with a very experienced trainer. One of the greatest benefits to +R training is that it is VERY hard to screw up your dog during the process. If you follow a few basic guidelines your dog is guaranteed to come out better behaved.
If you are struggling with any of the steps of the training or have questions about explanations, I encourage you to post them publicly in the comments section. I assure you other people involved have the EXACT same questions. So don't be shy! The more people that participate the more everyone will get out of it. I have set up a way for you to post anonymously if you do not want to divulge your identity.
I hope everyone enjoys this program. It should be fun, relaxed and easy to master!
I can't wait to get started.
The first portion of the orientation will be posted tomorrow. You will learn how to encourage and see an immediate increase in your dogs positive behavior!
www.petathleticclub.com
Things that I have learned from dogs.....
Over the years dogs have taught me a lot about life. Here are a few lessons I've learned.....
1) Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride.
2) When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
3) When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
4) When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.
5) Take naps, and stretch before rising.
6) Eat with enthusiasm.
7) Be loyal.
8) Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
9) Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
10) Having a PACk is always better than being alone!
Training Tip of the Day...
A very common question I get is "How do I keep my dog from barking when people ring the doorbell?".
There are several ways, here are two that work well together.
1) Work on your dogs obedience. When someone rings the bell at my house I allow my dog one bark, he is then instructed to go to his place and settle. He sits there quietly until he is released to greet the guest or until the pizza delivery guy is gone. This is achieved by first teaching your dog settle, teaching go to place, down on place, and then desensitizing him to the doorbell so he is not to hyper-excited to stay in place. Check back over the course of the next weeks to learn how to teach these basic commands.
2) Using the infamous squirt bottle. This is not a positive method like the one above, but often times a quick mist in the face from a squirt bottle is enough to get you through until you have achieved the obedience work mentioned above. The squirt bottle doesn't solve the problem (in all cases), but will manage it for a some time. Feel free to use this trick until we have made it through our online obedience program.
As some of you may be aware we are starting an online obedience program. If you follow the basic steps outlined in the program you will end up with a happy, obedient, and well adjusted dog.
Have a great memorial day weekend. Hope to see you all at the Taste of Cincinnati.
www.petathleticclub.com
1) Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride.
2) When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
3) When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
4) When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.
5) Take naps, and stretch before rising.
6) Eat with enthusiasm.
7) Be loyal.
8) Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
9) Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
10) Having a PACk is always better than being alone!
Training Tip of the Day...
A very common question I get is "How do I keep my dog from barking when people ring the doorbell?".
There are several ways, here are two that work well together.
1) Work on your dogs obedience. When someone rings the bell at my house I allow my dog one bark, he is then instructed to go to his place and settle. He sits there quietly until he is released to greet the guest or until the pizza delivery guy is gone. This is achieved by first teaching your dog settle, teaching go to place, down on place, and then desensitizing him to the doorbell so he is not to hyper-excited to stay in place. Check back over the course of the next weeks to learn how to teach these basic commands.
2) Using the infamous squirt bottle. This is not a positive method like the one above, but often times a quick mist in the face from a squirt bottle is enough to get you through until you have achieved the obedience work mentioned above. The squirt bottle doesn't solve the problem (in all cases), but will manage it for a some time. Feel free to use this trick until we have made it through our online obedience program.
As some of you may be aware we are starting an online obedience program. If you follow the basic steps outlined in the program you will end up with a happy, obedient, and well adjusted dog.
Have a great memorial day weekend. Hope to see you all at the Taste of Cincinnati.
www.petathleticclub.com
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Everyday Is an Adventure....
One of the best things at the PAC is watching PACmembers come out of their shells, shed their anxiety and develop into healthy, happy, well adjusted dogs. Here are a few examples...
Lucy the Bulldog was a rescue, and had spent her whole life in a cage. When she first came here she didn't know how to play, interact, or respond to people, in fact, she couldn't even walk up and down stairs. After taking training classes, and coming to PACtivity 3 times a week, you wouldn't even know that her life started out the way it did. She is a wonderful dog that loves to play, do obedience, and interact with the handlers...she even has the stairs mastered! Way to go Lucy, and a big pat on the back to her owners for working with her so diligently!
Another example is Otis (he's a mini Schnauzer)....when he came to us, boy was he a mess. He was a day away from being euthanized by his previous owner for being aggressive towards their three young boys. Otis had the opportunity to live here at the PAC while he went through his rehab. In a matter of weeks, Otis was one of the most loving dogs you have ever met. He never snaps or growls anymore, and loves spending his days rough housing with the other dogs and cuddling with the trainers. After Otis's rehab one of our wonderful clients adopted him, and he now gets to come to PACtivity 5 days a week with his best friend Bogey (yeah they're the bachelors). Thanks again for offering Otis a forever home!
One more example...and I think this is one of our greatest achievements yet. An owner came to us with a very serious problem. Their Great Dane, Goliath (a recent rescue), had SEVERE separation anxiety. It was so bad that they couldn't find a cage to contain him, so instead, one day tried locking him in the basement while they went to work. He ripped apart the bottom 5 stairs of their staircase, pulled the drywall off the wall, pulled up the carpet and ripped a hole in the door. They were absolutely at their wits end. So they brought Goliath to the PAC to live for two weeks for his rehab. 14 days later Goliath was completely CURED of his separation anxiety. Their veterinarian said it wouldn't last, but that was about 7 months ago, and they haven't had a single problem with Goliath since he went home. Keep us up to date on how he is doing!
If you are having problems with your dog, let us know. We are here to "meet your pet's needs, COMPLETELY"!
Have a great day...Your dog is!
www.petathleticclub.com
Lucy the Bulldog was a rescue, and had spent her whole life in a cage. When she first came here she didn't know how to play, interact, or respond to people, in fact, she couldn't even walk up and down stairs. After taking training classes, and coming to PACtivity 3 times a week, you wouldn't even know that her life started out the way it did. She is a wonderful dog that loves to play, do obedience, and interact with the handlers...she even has the stairs mastered! Way to go Lucy, and a big pat on the back to her owners for working with her so diligently!
Another example is Otis (he's a mini Schnauzer)....when he came to us, boy was he a mess. He was a day away from being euthanized by his previous owner for being aggressive towards their three young boys. Otis had the opportunity to live here at the PAC while he went through his rehab. In a matter of weeks, Otis was one of the most loving dogs you have ever met. He never snaps or growls anymore, and loves spending his days rough housing with the other dogs and cuddling with the trainers. After Otis's rehab one of our wonderful clients adopted him, and he now gets to come to PACtivity 5 days a week with his best friend Bogey (yeah they're the bachelors). Thanks again for offering Otis a forever home!
One more example...and I think this is one of our greatest achievements yet. An owner came to us with a very serious problem. Their Great Dane, Goliath (a recent rescue), had SEVERE separation anxiety. It was so bad that they couldn't find a cage to contain him, so instead, one day tried locking him in the basement while they went to work. He ripped apart the bottom 5 stairs of their staircase, pulled the drywall off the wall, pulled up the carpet and ripped a hole in the door. They were absolutely at their wits end. So they brought Goliath to the PAC to live for two weeks for his rehab. 14 days later Goliath was completely CURED of his separation anxiety. Their veterinarian said it wouldn't last, but that was about 7 months ago, and they haven't had a single problem with Goliath since he went home. Keep us up to date on how he is doing!
If you are having problems with your dog, let us know. We are here to "meet your pet's needs, COMPLETELY"!
Have a great day...Your dog is!
www.petathleticclub.com
Monday, May 21, 2007
What a GREAT day!
Here is a brief update of todays events...
Things were rockin at the PAC. We had 3 new puppies start today that were absolutely bouncing off the walls. They are exactly what we are looking for in PAC members, high energy and very driven. It didn't matter if it was food, toys, other dogs, or people. They were willing to work hard for it. Our newest addition, Joey (he's a Portuguese Water Dog)is a riot and he became fast friends with Chi (the husky pup) and Tucker (the tiniest little Yorkie).
This mornings games included Tennis, Hide and Treat, and Kong-A-Line! Gerty, our little Monica Seles, ruled the court, with Lulu and A'dieux not far behind in matches. Our Hide and Treat winners for the day were Lucy, Stan, and Koufax. They look like little hoover vacuums running around sucking up every treat in site. Everyone involved is always a winner in Kong-A-Line...it's a simple game that really just requires walking and eating. It's every ones favorite!
Nap time was kind of rowdy today as we had several dogs join the PAC midday. Don't be surprised if your fur-kids are extra worn out tonight. They didn't get as much rest as usual.
The afternoon was a blast. We did about 2 hours of training. I was particularly proud of Maddy, Turner and Keta. They are making great strides with all of their basic obedience. We worked on sit, down, stay, and come today. All the dogs participated in an hour of "Suicides" to really try and perfect these skills. I think a lot of owners would be shocked to see how well behaved their dogs can be. Picture your dog in a perfect sit stay in line with 10 other dogs, all waiting patiently to be recalled to the PAC leader....you can't picture it can ya. Well, let me tell you...it happens everyday here at the PAC.
I hope you had a wonderful day...your dog did!
www.petathleticclub.com
Meeting Your Pet's Needs, Completely!
Things were rockin at the PAC. We had 3 new puppies start today that were absolutely bouncing off the walls. They are exactly what we are looking for in PAC members, high energy and very driven. It didn't matter if it was food, toys, other dogs, or people. They were willing to work hard for it. Our newest addition, Joey (he's a Portuguese Water Dog)is a riot and he became fast friends with Chi (the husky pup) and Tucker (the tiniest little Yorkie).
This mornings games included Tennis, Hide and Treat, and Kong-A-Line! Gerty, our little Monica Seles, ruled the court, with Lulu and A'dieux not far behind in matches. Our Hide and Treat winners for the day were Lucy, Stan, and Koufax. They look like little hoover vacuums running around sucking up every treat in site. Everyone involved is always a winner in Kong-A-Line...it's a simple game that really just requires walking and eating. It's every ones favorite!
Nap time was kind of rowdy today as we had several dogs join the PAC midday. Don't be surprised if your fur-kids are extra worn out tonight. They didn't get as much rest as usual.
The afternoon was a blast. We did about 2 hours of training. I was particularly proud of Maddy, Turner and Keta. They are making great strides with all of their basic obedience. We worked on sit, down, stay, and come today. All the dogs participated in an hour of "Suicides" to really try and perfect these skills. I think a lot of owners would be shocked to see how well behaved their dogs can be. Picture your dog in a perfect sit stay in line with 10 other dogs, all waiting patiently to be recalled to the PAC leader....you can't picture it can ya. Well, let me tell you...it happens everyday here at the PAC.
I hope you had a wonderful day...your dog did!
www.petathleticclub.com
Meeting Your Pet's Needs, Completely!
Friday, May 18, 2007
Favorite Dog Jokes!
Here are a few dog related jokes that I find amusing...enjoy
There was a hound dog laying in the yard and an old geezer in overalls was sitting on the porch. ''Excuse me, sir, but does your dog bite?'' a tourist asked. The old man looked up over his newspaper and replied, ''Nope.'' As soon as the tourist stepped out of his car, the dog began snarling and growling, and then attacked both his arms and legs. As the tourist flailed around in the dust, he yelled, ''I thought you said your dog didn't bite!'' The old man muttered, ''Ain't my dog.''
************************************************************************************
A man walks outside to his car for work, when he notices a gorilla in his tree. He rushes to his phone book and finds the animal control number, calls and asks them to send over someone who's a gorilla expert. When the man arrives, he is carrying a shotgun, a chihuahua and a pair of handcuffs.
The man says,''What are all of those for?''
The animal control officer says, ''I'll climb up in the tree, knock the gorilla down, the dog will bite him in the jewels and you must slap the handcuffs on his wrists.''
The man asks, ''What is the gun for?''
The animal control officer responds, ''If I fall first, you shoot the dog!'''
************************************************************************************
A man hated his wife's dog and he decided to get rid of it. He drove 20 blocks away from home and dropped the dog there. The dog was already walking up the driveway when he approached his home. The next day, he decided to drop the dog 40 blocks away but the same thing happened. He kept on increasing the number of blocks but the dog kept on coming home before him.
At last he decided to drive a few miles away, turn right, then left, past the bridge, then right again and another right and so on until he reached what he thought was a perfect spot and dropped the dog there.
Hours later, the man calls his wife at home and asked her, "Jen is the dog there?" "Yes, why do you ask?" answered the wife.
Frustrated the man said, "Put that dog on the phone, I'm lost and I need directions."
************************************************************************************
A little girl asks her mum, 'Mum, may I take the dog for a walk around the block?' Mum says, 'No, because the dog is in heat.''What's that mean?' asks the child. 'Go ask your Father. I think he's in the garage'.The little girl goes to the garage and says. 'Dad, can I take Susie for a walk around the block? I asked Mum but she said the dog was in heat and that I should ask you.'Dad says, 'Bring Susie over here.' He takes a rag, soaks it with gasoline, and scrubs the dog's rear with it and says, 'OK, you can go now but keep Susie on the leash and only go one time around the block.'The little girl leaves and returns a few minutes later with no dog on the leash.Dad says, 'Where's Susie"' The little girl says, 'Susie ran out of gas about halfway down the block and there's another dog pushing her home.
************************************************************************************
Hope to see you all at Indoor Dog Park tomorrow morning from 8am-1pm.
Have a great weekend!
http://www.petathleticclub.com/
There was a hound dog laying in the yard and an old geezer in overalls was sitting on the porch. ''Excuse me, sir, but does your dog bite?'' a tourist asked. The old man looked up over his newspaper and replied, ''Nope.'' As soon as the tourist stepped out of his car, the dog began snarling and growling, and then attacked both his arms and legs. As the tourist flailed around in the dust, he yelled, ''I thought you said your dog didn't bite!'' The old man muttered, ''Ain't my dog.''
************************************************************************************
A man walks outside to his car for work, when he notices a gorilla in his tree. He rushes to his phone book and finds the animal control number, calls and asks them to send over someone who's a gorilla expert. When the man arrives, he is carrying a shotgun, a chihuahua and a pair of handcuffs.
The man says,''What are all of those for?''
The animal control officer says, ''I'll climb up in the tree, knock the gorilla down, the dog will bite him in the jewels and you must slap the handcuffs on his wrists.''
The man asks, ''What is the gun for?''
The animal control officer responds, ''If I fall first, you shoot the dog!'''
************************************************************************************
A man hated his wife's dog and he decided to get rid of it. He drove 20 blocks away from home and dropped the dog there. The dog was already walking up the driveway when he approached his home. The next day, he decided to drop the dog 40 blocks away but the same thing happened. He kept on increasing the number of blocks but the dog kept on coming home before him.
At last he decided to drive a few miles away, turn right, then left, past the bridge, then right again and another right and so on until he reached what he thought was a perfect spot and dropped the dog there.
Hours later, the man calls his wife at home and asked her, "Jen is the dog there?" "Yes, why do you ask?" answered the wife.
Frustrated the man said, "Put that dog on the phone, I'm lost and I need directions."
************************************************************************************
A little girl asks her mum, 'Mum, may I take the dog for a walk around the block?' Mum says, 'No, because the dog is in heat.''What's that mean?' asks the child. 'Go ask your Father. I think he's in the garage'.The little girl goes to the garage and says. 'Dad, can I take Susie for a walk around the block? I asked Mum but she said the dog was in heat and that I should ask you.'Dad says, 'Bring Susie over here.' He takes a rag, soaks it with gasoline, and scrubs the dog's rear with it and says, 'OK, you can go now but keep Susie on the leash and only go one time around the block.'The little girl leaves and returns a few minutes later with no dog on the leash.Dad says, 'Where's Susie"' The little girl says, 'Susie ran out of gas about halfway down the block and there's another dog pushing her home.
************************************************************************************
Hope to see you all at Indoor Dog Park tomorrow morning from 8am-1pm.
Have a great weekend!
http://www.petathleticclub.com/
Courtship at the PAC
Good Morning PAC members...
Today I am going to share some things that are going to shock some of you about your "sweet", "innocent" pups. There are some pretty serious romances blossoming here at the PAC.
The first one worth mentioning is between El Chubs the Chihuahua and Muffin the Malti-poo. This all began when Muffin tackled Chubs on the playroom floor. El Chubs ran for his life, but Muffin pursued. Now they are a happy, yet goofy looking couple. Muffin keeps Chubs on a very short leash.
Another popular couple is Bob and Gigi...the Westies. They met months ago at a little park in Covington. One day they went their separate ways never to see each other again (Gigi moved all the way across the river). Gigi was heart broken. Finally, after months of pining for him...they have been re-united at the PAC.
Now to the seedier side of things...Miss Gerty (The German Short Hair) has been showing interest in Parker (The other German Short Hair) when he is here, but on the days he isn't, she shares her love with another man...Reilly (The rough and tumble Chow lab mix). Don't tell Parker, but today I saw Reilly and Gerty holding paws and sniffing butts behind the play equipment. Parker better get back in here and claim his lady.
Speaking of claiming things...Lulu (The Bulldog) not only steals everyone's toys, she takes their man too. It's like nothing I have ever seen before...Ruby (The Min Pin) and Stan (the strong silent type lab mix) will be chewing on a toy together, and the next thing you know Lulu comes along shaking her tail and off goes Stan right behind her. Apparently he like his ladies with a little meat on their bones.
Lucy (Another Bulldog) has been working hard to get Keta's (Shepherd Mix) attention, but he only has eyes for Kalua (The young German Shepherd). Lucy is currently devising a plan to knock Keta off his feet, hopefully she is not thinking literally (if you have seen Lucy play this won't surprise you.)
Bogey (The Beagle) and his roommate Otis (The Schnauzer) the self-proclaimed bachelors, talk a lot of game, but when it really comes down to it, they would much rather hang out together and play sports than talk to girls. They both think that sports are way more interesting than silly girls.
The last of our gossip on the love scene comes from Turner (The Beagle mix). Turner is an adolescent youth, set on finding his first girlfriend. He is still at that awkward stage where he has eyes for all of the girls but can't close the deal.
If anyone has any advice or input for these young lovers, let us know and we will be sure to get the message to them. Continue to stay tuned for more gossip, training tips, and PAC updates.
Have a great day... your dog is!
Today I am going to share some things that are going to shock some of you about your "sweet", "innocent" pups. There are some pretty serious romances blossoming here at the PAC.
The first one worth mentioning is between El Chubs the Chihuahua and Muffin the Malti-poo. This all began when Muffin tackled Chubs on the playroom floor. El Chubs ran for his life, but Muffin pursued. Now they are a happy, yet goofy looking couple. Muffin keeps Chubs on a very short leash.
Another popular couple is Bob and Gigi...the Westies. They met months ago at a little park in Covington. One day they went their separate ways never to see each other again (Gigi moved all the way across the river). Gigi was heart broken. Finally, after months of pining for him...they have been re-united at the PAC.
Now to the seedier side of things...Miss Gerty (The German Short Hair) has been showing interest in Parker (The other German Short Hair) when he is here, but on the days he isn't, she shares her love with another man...Reilly (The rough and tumble Chow lab mix). Don't tell Parker, but today I saw Reilly and Gerty holding paws and sniffing butts behind the play equipment. Parker better get back in here and claim his lady.
Speaking of claiming things...Lulu (The Bulldog) not only steals everyone's toys, she takes their man too. It's like nothing I have ever seen before...Ruby (The Min Pin) and Stan (the strong silent type lab mix) will be chewing on a toy together, and the next thing you know Lulu comes along shaking her tail and off goes Stan right behind her. Apparently he like his ladies with a little meat on their bones.
Lucy (Another Bulldog) has been working hard to get Keta's (Shepherd Mix) attention, but he only has eyes for Kalua (The young German Shepherd). Lucy is currently devising a plan to knock Keta off his feet, hopefully she is not thinking literally (if you have seen Lucy play this won't surprise you.)
Bogey (The Beagle) and his roommate Otis (The Schnauzer) the self-proclaimed bachelors, talk a lot of game, but when it really comes down to it, they would much rather hang out together and play sports than talk to girls. They both think that sports are way more interesting than silly girls.
The last of our gossip on the love scene comes from Turner (The Beagle mix). Turner is an adolescent youth, set on finding his first girlfriend. He is still at that awkward stage where he has eyes for all of the girls but can't close the deal.
If anyone has any advice or input for these young lovers, let us know and we will be sure to get the message to them. Continue to stay tuned for more gossip, training tips, and PAC updates.
Have a great day... your dog is!
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Welcome to the Pet Athletic Club Blog
So, everyday all kinds of crazy things happen at the Pet Athletic Club (PAC). I thought our PAC members and others might enjoy reading about the things that happen. I also get several calls a day with all sorts of training questions. I am going to post the questions and answers in the blog so everyone can learn from one another.
I will ask that you bare with me for a few days until I get the hang of this. I am still learning the in/outs as this is my first attempt at blogging.
Today I am just going to go through one quick training question:
One of our members is quite frustrated with her 6 month old pup Sally. Sally is a ball of energy and when she gets fired up she is bouncing of the walls. She starts biting at pant legs, nipping hands, jerking on the leash, barking...just all around bad behavior. Now part of this is just being a pup. The other part is that Sally has learned how to take advantage of her owner. She does this, not to be spiteful, but to get something she wants. she maybe looking for a certain reaction, physical contact, and she probably considers this activity playtime.
So what do we do. Well this particular owner was very proactive when Sally was younger and started puppy class at about 12 weeks. Sally is very well trained (of course she is, she was trained at the PAC). The key to dealing with Sally's outburst is utilizing the commands she knows to get her back under control. Better yet, use the commands to keep her under control instead of letting her get to the point where you have NO control.
For instance, when you bring Sally into the PAC, bring her in in the heel position. Command her to sit at the gate and wait patiently. Now this will take some practice, but you will see an immediate difference. Utilize this in your daily life. Sally should go from the crate, into a heel outside, be allowed to do her business, and back to the heel position, and then back inside (sitting at doors), and then she should be commanded to sit/down at your feet. Since Sally can not control herself, you must control her. This will not always be the case. Sally will learn very quickly what gets praised and what get corrected. Use the commands she knows to get the behavior you want.
Now, I know you are all thinking, what do i do...my dog would never follow these commands. The answer is simple...training class. Good behavior starts with exercise, and then the next major component is OBEDIENCE. Get into a class and get started to day.
Check out our training section at www.petathleticclub.com
Mic Foster
I will ask that you bare with me for a few days until I get the hang of this. I am still learning the in/outs as this is my first attempt at blogging.
Today I am just going to go through one quick training question:
One of our members is quite frustrated with her 6 month old pup Sally. Sally is a ball of energy and when she gets fired up she is bouncing of the walls. She starts biting at pant legs, nipping hands, jerking on the leash, barking...just all around bad behavior. Now part of this is just being a pup. The other part is that Sally has learned how to take advantage of her owner. She does this, not to be spiteful, but to get something she wants. she maybe looking for a certain reaction, physical contact, and she probably considers this activity playtime.
So what do we do. Well this particular owner was very proactive when Sally was younger and started puppy class at about 12 weeks. Sally is very well trained (of course she is, she was trained at the PAC). The key to dealing with Sally's outburst is utilizing the commands she knows to get her back under control. Better yet, use the commands to keep her under control instead of letting her get to the point where you have NO control.
For instance, when you bring Sally into the PAC, bring her in in the heel position. Command her to sit at the gate and wait patiently. Now this will take some practice, but you will see an immediate difference. Utilize this in your daily life. Sally should go from the crate, into a heel outside, be allowed to do her business, and back to the heel position, and then back inside (sitting at doors), and then she should be commanded to sit/down at your feet. Since Sally can not control herself, you must control her. This will not always be the case. Sally will learn very quickly what gets praised and what get corrected. Use the commands she knows to get the behavior you want.
Now, I know you are all thinking, what do i do...my dog would never follow these commands. The answer is simple...training class. Good behavior starts with exercise, and then the next major component is OBEDIENCE. Get into a class and get started to day.
Check out our training section at www.petathleticclub.com
Mic Foster
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