Pure Canine Training

Merry Christmas Eve!!

After taking a little break, Gracie is back into training. Because she still has a lot of energy, we worked on having her hold her commands for longer periods of time and keeping her in a calmer state of mind.

Do your dogs get stockings?

With Christmas coming up, many people will be adding a new canine companion to their family. With a new dog comes, new rules, new boundaries, new relationships, lots of fun, and of course...potty training. Potty Training is one the first priorities to address when you bring a new dog into your home. Dogs are a joy, accidents are not. Potty training is not complicated...it just requires some consistency and dedication. You need to be proactive instead of waiting for your dog ...to tell you when they have to go. If you can be consistent, you can have your dog potty trained in a few weeks at most. For those of you working on house training your dog, I have some free tips for you! Just click the contact us button at the top of the page, enter #pottytrainingtips into the chat and leave an email where I can send the handout. Happy training!

Lilou worked on recalls on our recent session. She’s progressing so well!

Did he make you smile?

Don’t lose your tools too soon. What I mean is, don’t rush to stop using collars, leashes, crates, etc. There’s no rush in getting rid of your tools. Make sure that not only is your dog reliable and trustworthy but also that you are confident and comfortable. Tools, much like training wheels, can help you feel confident and stable. In turn, your dog will have more confidence and trust in you. Do not rush yourself or your dog Keep your training wheels on as long as you need to become A calm and confident handler. After outgrowing the training wheels, I can ride a bike just fine...I don’t remember how long the training wheels were on and at this point it is irrelevant because it got me here.

Meet my newest client Lola! She’s deaf so we are using hand signals to communicate the commands to her. We worked on teaching her to focus (give eye contact) on us which has been a challenge because she’s a go, go, go kind of dog and is constantly overly excited about everything. So we are also working on her having a calmer state of mind by detoxing her of anything that overly excites her.

It may be Thursday, but Roxy is feeling those Friday vibes already.

We spent Ozzy’s last session reviewing his basic commands and emphasized on boundaries. The kids and Ozzy had to learn to respect each others boundaries and interact appropriately. Ozzy had to learn that the kids aren’t his littermates so shenanigans like nipping or being crazy aren’t allowed and he has to give the kids some space. I always encourage the adults in the household to advocate for both kids and the dogs. If you see either dog or kid is feeling uncomfortable or is getting pushed around, parents need to intervene. Kids and dogs should be supervised at all times.

Check out the satellite ears on this cutie! On top of learning the basics, Caliber learned that puppy shenanigans like nipping is not ideal. He did great for his first lesson and is super smart!

#TrainerTip Depending on the age and where you got your puppy, some may not have been exposed to being fed by hand. This could be problematic when doing training. If you find yourself in this predicament, try having your puppy lick peanut butter (make sure it doesn’t contain Xylitol) or pure pumpkin off your hands/fingers. Doing this will associate your hand as something good and also creates a stronger bond between you and your puppy. As your pup has an understanding of goodies coming from your hand, start replacing the peanut butter or pumpkin with soft treats.

One spot left! If you are in or around the Hesperia area, I will be there training this Tuesday, December 22nd. If you would like to schedule a consultation with me, message me or text me (626-604-0509) to book the remaining spot!

Happy Halloween from Roxy! We hope there’s no tricks and just treats! Have fun and be safe everyone!

The spookiest night of the year is almost here! What will your pups be for Halloween!

Meet Ozzy! This cutie learned markers, sit, down and implied stays during his first lesson. Stay tuned for updates as he progresses through his training!

Georgia makes place look so effortless. Place is almost as hard (if not harder) for dogs to master because it takes a lot of mental work to be stationary, especially for dogs that feel the need to be in the mix of things.

Freedom is earned. When you bring a new dog into the house, they need to be clear on the rules and boundaries before they have run of the house. Structure and routine needs to be set and they need to have a good understanding of what your expectations are. It is your job to hold them accountable and stay consistent so that they can earn their freedom by respecting rules and boundaries. The more trustworthy your dog is, the more freedom you can give. For those of you that have recently brought a new dog into your home, or for those who plan to over the holidays, this is a good guideline for you follow from the very beginning. It will make the adjustment period much easier on both you and the dog.

Happy Sunday from Miss Roxy!

Mezcal and her owner worked on recalls during her session. As your dog gets more dependable on recalls, try challenging them by adding more distractions and distance. Be sure to use a long line just in case your dog decides to run off.

Lilou is quickly learning that walking on the leash means you get to explore the world. It’s taken her quite a while to get over her fear of the leash, but during our most recent session, she’s finally gained enough confidence to walk outdoors for the first time. I’m so proud of this sweet girl for making it this far!

#TrainerTipTuesday: Introducing the crate to dogs could be a struggle. One way to make it easier and less scary for your dog is to use food/treats. If you have a 2 door crate, open both doors and use food/treats to lure them through one door and out the other. Reward your dog when they successfully walk through the crate. Once they are comfortable walking through the crate doors, close one door so that your dog has to come in/out through the same crate door.

Did you know that the command place doesn’t always have to be your dog’s bed? Place can also be a bath mat, cot, basically anything that has a fixed perimeter. You can also have multiple spots for your dog to place on throughout your house. I love using this cot from 4legs4pets when introducing dogs to place because it creates a definite perimeter that the dog has to step up onto. We introduced Calvin to place and he’s picking up on it quick.

Meet my newest client Mezcal! She learned the meaning of marker words, sit and down. So far she's off to a great start!

Cooper hopes that everyone had a great weekend!