VP Dog Training

GETTING MY SECOND VACCINE SHOT!! Glad to get it done. Might be ill for few days but worth it. Not only to me and my family but because I’m contributing toward slowing Covid and variants down!!!

Both Classes Doing Great!! I have to say that both the Saturday group class as well as the Wednesday class are doing great. As always every dog and owner have their challenges but we are figuring out how to make everyone successful. Very committed owners in both classes. Makes teaching class a lot of fun for me.

Class had to be canceled due to rain today

GETTING MY FIST VACCINATION!!

Had two great classes this week. The Tustin class is small but committed to their dog’s education. Newport Beach is larger but all the dogs are doing great and having fun (I feel strongly that training your dog should be fun so try to add that to class). Can’t wait to see them all progress !

The new Saturday January class is now closed. Very nice mix of breeds. My City of Tustin class still has open spots. This class is on Wednesday evenings 6:30 to 7:30. You can register for this class through parks and recreation department. 2021 is going to be a good year. We all need it!

NEW CLASS STARTING JANUARY 2 We are going to start a new class at a new site starting January 2. Still 9:30 - 10:30. If you are interested in joining or know of someone who might be, contact me and I’ll give you all the new details. I’m hoping to be able to add new learning experiences for all. ... Patti

This is an article from Whole Dog Journal. I have known many clients that had allergy testing done on their dog. None that I know of felt it was worth it. Dog allergies There are a few different types of tests available that purport to identify the allergens to which a dog is hyper sensitive; some of them are helpful and some are a waste of time and money. Since all of them are commonly referred to as allergy tests, few people know which ones are credible, and which ones a...re not. The following is a brief description of the types of tests available for allergy diagnosis. * Blood (serologic) tests for antigen-induced antibodies - Two different methods (RAST and ELISA) are used for the most common commercial test products used by veterinarians. Historically, the tests have been unreliable with lots of false positive and false negative results, though the technology has improved over the years. * Skin (intradermal) tests for environmental allergens -- In an intradermal test, tiny amounts of a number of suspected or likely local allergens are injected just under a dog’s skin. Most veterinary dermatologists feel these tests are much more reliable than blood tests for antibodies. It should be noted that testing is more time-consuming and expensive, not to mention stressful for the dog, who must be observed very closely, several times, by a stranger! * Tests for food allergies - Both blood and skin tests for food allergies exist, but it’s difficult to find anyone (besides the companies that produce the tests) who feel the results are worth the paper they are printed on. It would be exciting and useful if it worked, but so far, the tests are a work in progress, with only an estimated 30 percent accuracy rate. Why bother when you can conduct a food elimination trial that will deliver much more accurate information about your dog’s food allergies.

STEP TWO IN CREATING A GREAT RECALL Ok, now your dog is coming to you quickly and happily when you say their name. Next step is to increase distance a bit and perhaps a little more distraction. ... This is where it can be fun for everyone in the household. Everyone has already practiced the first step. Now everyone can spread out more and perhaps hide close by but around a corner. Everyone takes turns calling the dog and when the dog gets to them or finds them hiding have an on the spot party with excitement and treats. The dogs can really enjoy this game and they don’t even realize they are being trained. We are still in positive motivation mode but you can start to back off on a treat every time (but keep the praise and party going). You will continue to praise your dog for coming to you but you won’t always dispense treats each time (you can also reward with a favorite toy instead of a treat) in fact it’s a good idea to mix reward up a bit. So now you are doing a good job of programming your dog to want to come to you (never call your dog then immediately do something they don’t like). Next step will be to add more distractions and possibly some corrections. For now keep building on the above.

HOW GOOD NAME RECOGNITION CAN TURN INTO A GREAT RECALL Doesn’t make sense? Following are the steps I use for every single dog/puppy I work with. Including my own. ... 1. Start with dog on leash and fairly close. Say your dog’s name in a nice and upbeat tone of voice. Within one second slip a small morsel of food/treat into their mouth. All they have to do is open their mouth. Make sure what you are using is high value and soft. We don’t want the dog to have to chew it up. Repeat above procedure three times. Then do a test. When your dog is closed to you but not looking at you say the name in same way you did before. You should see your dog’s head turn around to you. If not there are too many distractions or your treat isn’t special enough. If that’s the case fix the problems and repeat. If your dog does turn head around to you be sure to reinforce with a treat and praise. Then wait for your dog to look away and repeat. If all is as it should be you will see you dog turn head around to you faster and faster. Yay! Now repeat but this time be at the end of your leash (do not pull). Repeat the steps and hold hand out so dog sees you have treat. Hopefully your dog will travel to you to get treat. SUCESS!! I know, it’s only three to six feet but it is a start. PART TWO OF BUILDING GREAT RECALLS TO FOLLOW. Of course if you have any questions contact me. Great Training!

WHO SAYS YOU CAN’T PUT TOGETHER A WEDDING IN TWO WEEKS! Our son and his beautiful fiancé had planned out a really nice wedding and reception months ago. The bride to be had always dreamed of an October wedding at sunset. THEN Covid-19 arrived. Like so many other soon to be wedded couples, their plans had to be canceled. They tried to continue to wait for a time when their plans could again move forward but alas Covid said oh no you won’t and they knew it wasn’t going to ha...ppen. But....like so many times in history the human spirit and determination (not to mention imagination) persevered. Yesterday, after about two weeks of planning and a ton of impromptu switch ups, our son and his beautiful fiancé were married in a local park at dusk. It was a very small gathering of immediate family and a couple friends. Our other son proudly officiated the ceremony which made it all the more special. It was a beautiful day with a light cooling breeze and the ceremony was held under the trees. They immediately took off after a small celebration to their newly planned honeymoon driving up the coast (staying as safe as one can be in these times). It was really quite perfect

NEW CLASS STARTING TOMORROW IS NOW CLOSED! Should be a great class with lots of diversity. Stay tuned for updates

NEW GROUP CLASS STARTING OCTOBER 10th A new class will be starting in Costa Mesa on the 10th. There are still some spots open. Contact me if you have questions or are interested in joining.

WHEN PLAY TURNS INTO SOMETHING ELSE This is a very common issue. Unfortunately it is not recognized as a problem until it is a possibly dangerous situation. It starts with play between dogs. Two dogs evenly matched. Perhaps both high energy dogs. Everything looks great until things start to escalate both in sound and action. The problem can appear when neither chooses to take a break and calm down a bit. Instead the play can become more and more rough until one of them gets ...irritated and the dynamic changes into more of an argument instead of play. That can easily tip over into a full on fight that has to be broken up. The situation can become worse much faster if a third dog enters. Threesomes are generally not a wise idea unless the dogs know each other well. This can also occur between a dog and human. The play escalates until the dog is over stimulated and aroused and starts to grab or nip at the person. It’s pretty straightforward to keep this from happening by monitoring play and forcing a break when things are getting out of control either dog to dog or dog to person. Always better to be proactive rather than have to wade in to stop an unhealthy interaction.

My Dog Has To Say Hi!! This situation is so common. Unfortunately it is often not the best activity for your own dog or the other dog. Not to even mention that LOTS of dogs do not enjoy greeting other dogs (and that doesn’t mean you have a defective dog.) Just like lots of people don’t really enjoy parties, lots of dogs don’t feel the need to hang out with other dogs. That is very different than a dog who is reactive to dogs or afraid of them. The dog that is just fine with ...dogs but can take them or leave them is a true gem. When another dog is over excited to get to other dogs and is allowed to pull their person to the dog risks overwhelming the other dog or setting the other dog off. Over time the other dog can automatically become over aroused when it sees a dog and when the time comes that they can’t go say hi...... they lose it. Also even if the other dog doesn’t have evil intentions, their energy level approaching other dogs can easily send your dog into defensive mode. Not a fun time for your dog. So although hanging out with other dogs can be a favorite thing for some dogs, they need to be taught to control themselves BEFORE they get to say hi and more importantly accept the fact that sometimes they aren’t going to be allowed to..... period! See more

NEW GROUP TRAINING CLASS STARTING A new group training class will be starting on August 8th in Costa Mesa. Contact me if you have questions or would like to join the class.

Have a lion in your house that needs some taming? Consider virtual lessons and/or consultations with us. They are remarkably effective and safe, not to mention very affordable. Give me a call if you would like to find out if this is a good option for you (and your little lion) during these challenging times.

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Why Most Dogs Shouldn't Be Shaved Generally speaking, I think dogs also do best with their natural coat, as long as it's maintained in good condition. One exception would be dogs with recurrent hot spots or other dermatologic conditions. Some of these pets do better with shorter hair because their owners can manage their skin conditions more effectively. Additionally, some dogs can't clean their private areas very well, so keeping the perianal hair trimmed away is more hygien...Continue reading

TOMATO ART Hubby had to harvest what was left of his tomatoes before the critters got ALL of them.

JUST A REMINDER..... We are offering virtual lessons and consultations now. They are proving to be very adaptable and beneficial. We can even do outside lessons on loose leash walking or leash reactivity to name just a couple of common issues. We are using the Zoom, FaceTime, and Messenger Video Chat venues and all are working well. Indoors we can work on just about any issue including crate training, chewing, barking, jumping as well as all the basic commands. ... Lessons and consultations are very affordable. Call me if you have questions. Patti

My pit mix rescue Deegan. Mr I’m afraid of absolutely everything! Including air at times. But we love him.