Join us on April 18th, 2010 to raise funds for Delta Waterfowl and to work with your retriever! The Dawg Trainer will set up 2 land doubles and one water double with a blind to work with your dog and to see what you need to practice on before duck season opens! Donation of $25.00 per dog.

Come join us at Orschlen’s Farm and Home in Herman, MO on February 27, 2010! We will be doing free demos with your dog and our’s throughout the day.

Retriever/gun dog class and workshop from 11 AM until 1 PM.

“Puppy Party!” from 1 to 3 PM. Bring your 8 weeks - 16 week old puppy and join us for the fun!

Pet Group Class will be held from 3 PM - 5 PM.

Would you like to see how to with your dog around distractions? Have your dog come when he is called? Even off leash? If you have any questions about the event or about your dog; call 636-828-5538.

Location:
103 Danube Drive
Hermann, MO 65041
(573) 486-2366

Store Hours
M-Sat 8am - 8pm
Sun 10am - 6pm

“With the ever increasing population density in our cities and surrounding communities the historical approach to canine ownership is no longer a viable approach.  The problems that are arising  DO NOT lie with the dogs but with humans and their changing perceptions and circumstances”. 1

Wow, what a mouthful. I would like to talk about this some. I agree with this statement but only to some degree. I do believe that the problems lies with us, the human, for the shape of things today. but I am not convinced that it is due to the population density in our cities and communities. Let me explain:

Think back in time. Think back when you were growing up with your family dog. Do you remember? Playing in the yard with your dog right there beside you. You both made army forts together or maybe it was mud pies. The neighbors came over with their dog and while you played cowboys and indians, the dogs ran and played with you. Most yards did not have fences and many times, you would open the front door to find one of the neighbor’s dogs sitting in the yard with Fido and you thought nothing of that.

Now, fast forward to the present. Look around you. What do you see? Today, everyone seems to have a fence. Many of those are actually privacy fences where no one can see what the person on the inside is doing. We wake up of a morning, let the dog out, feed the dog, and then we leave for work. Many of us travel an hour or more each way to and from work then add at least 8 hours on the job. That makes for a minimum of 10 hours away. When we get home, we’re exhausted. By the time we let Fido out again and fix dinner; all we wish to do is relax for a bit. Weekends are not that much different. Some of us need to work the overtime to make ends meet - especially in this economy of cost going up and income going down. Some of us need to get away on the weekends because we find our jobs so stressful that we need the break. Where does that leave Fido?

We bring Fido home as a puppy and we think he is so cute that we can not set boundaries and rules yet. Let him be a puppy. As he grows up, we can’t take Fido out in public because he has no manners. Then Fido is full grown. He’s strong and pays us no attention. Fido stays at home when we go places because he jumps on people or snarls at strangers or charges other dogs. How did this happen?

Many things brought this about. All of these things could have turned out better if we would have slowed down and set rules and boundaries in the beginning. Nutrition and genetics also play roles in our pets behavior but even those are more tolerable when we set rules and boundaries.

Before you ever pick up your puppy, think about how you want your puppy to behave and make a plan to make that successful. Hiring a pet dog trainer should be in that plan. Start from day one, taking your puppy with you everywhere humanly possible. Please keep in mind, you do not want to leave a puppy unattended in a car. Socialize this puppy to people, strangers and other dogs. Attend puppy socialization classes and beginning obedience class. You will want to teach your puppy right away not to jump on people. Teach your puppy how to come when he is called and how to sit. Use the sit command when you meet a stranger. Your puppy does not get pet until he sits. Do not pet your puppy while he is jumping up. Teach your puppy how to be calm. A pet dog trainer can help you set up your puppy for success and set you on the right path to enjoy your puppy for many years to come.

What brings the biggest success to raising your puppy???? Consistency. Throughout your dog’s life, practice consistently the behavior you wish your dog to exhibit. If you let your dog bolt through the door, bark constancy or chase the neighbor’s kids, that is the behavior they will learn. If every time you open the door, the dog has to sit; practice consistently, every time you open the door your dog will automatically sit without you saying differently. The next thing you will know, people will start telling you they wish their dog behaved as well as yours.

Contact your local pet dog trainer today to see how they can get you were you would like to be with your dog.

1 http://www.examiner.com/x-/x-17156-German-Shepherd-Examiner~y2009m12d10-Is-it-time-for-the-United-States-to-consider-dangerous-dog-legislation

A good friend, along with being a well known dog trainer, Robin MacFarlane of That’s My Dog! Inc. was off teaching other dog trainers how to use the remote collar at Jackson County Humane Society when she was approached by a woman calling herself a representative of PETA. I will let you read Robin’s account of the story here: http://thatsmydog.com/blog/?p=132 After you read Robin’s story and the volunteer at the shelter response, the rest of my post will make more sense.

One of the first things that popped into my mind while reading Robin’s story was how the woman was there at least once a week to look around, yet not once during that time actually volunteered to help at the shelter or bothered to bring in any food or medication for any of the animals. All this individual was doing was looking for problems instead of helping or resolving any problems.

As my past clients know, The Dawg Trainer looks for methods that helps to solve the problems that an individual is having with their dog. In other words, The Dawg Trainer wish to find solutions. If members of organizations like PETA were to work as hard at solving problems instead looking for more problems - just think how many problems they could actually solve.

With that thought in mind, I believe it would be a good thing to help Jackson County Humane Society with their current problem. Most of their problem can be solved with money. With money they could buy kitten food they need for the spring batch of kittens dropped off or medication for the cat that has allergies. I know times are tough for everyone these days. If you can afford to, please write out a check for whatever amount you can afford. In the memo section of that check, write “TMD thanks you” and mail it too:

Jackson County Humane Society
23354 DARK HOLLOW ROAD
MAQUOKETA, IA 52060

If there is a local shelter in the area that would like to learn more about what we do here at The Dawg Trainer, please contact me. The staff at The Dawg Trainer would be more than willing to show you what we do, how we do it, and help you with any dogs you currently are having behavioral problems with.

While at E-collarpolooza this weekend, JT Cough talked about networking on the web. Twitter and TwitPics were 2 areas in which she talked about. I can post from my iphone a quick comment or a picture and it will show up at www.twitter.com/thedawgtrainer. I know the picture part I will use often. Thanks JT!

Jilly and I were invited to speak at Central Elementary School on July 10th. I had a very hard time thinking up what to talk about to the children of the school until I started doing some research. I found that 50% - 75% of dog bites reported in the United States each year were children. I know from personal experience that most children do not know how to approach a strange dog. I can remember a trip to PetsMart with one of my dogs where a child came running up from behind my dog and I and grabbed him around the back legs and gave him a hug, resting her head on his back. Thank goodness I heard her coming and I had a well trained dog with me or that could have become a scary situation. I have not had an adult do something like this yet, but I have had adults make the wrong decision when it comes to approaching a strange dog. I believe everyone could use a refresher course in safety.

Statistics show that there are common patterns surrounding dog bites. A few of these patterns include: more than one dog, a dog is in the backyard at a neighbor’s, no adult supervision, and the dog is normally kept on a chain or a rope.

There are many ways to keep a child safe around strange dogs. Talk to your children about these safety steps:
1. Always stay calm around dogs. Do not make loud noises or sudden moves. Talk softly.
2. Do not run up to a dog.
3. Do not hug a strange dog.
4. Do not put your face near a dog’s face.
5. Do not touch a dog that is growling, showing his teeth or barking alot.
6. Only approach a dog when a grown up is around and watching.
7. Do not take toys or food away from a dog.
8. Do not bother a dog when it is sleeping.
9. Do not pull a dog’s tail, fur or ears and do not poke at a dog through a fence or with a stick.
10. When a dog approaches you, stand still and quiet. Keep your hands at your side and allow the dog to sniff you.
11. Do not run away from a dog that is chasing you. Stand like a tree. If the dog knocks you down, curl up in a ball with your arms over your face and head.
12. Avoid eye contact with dogs that are barking loudly, showing their teeth or growling. Back off slowly and walk away.
13. Always ask the dog’s owner if you can pet their dog.
14. If the owner says yes, slowly reach towards the dog and make a fist so the dog can sniff your hand and then pet the dog under the chin.

The Humane Society of the United States has a Dos and Don’ts coloring page to help your children spot the proper responses and improper behaviors. The American Veterinary Medical Association has a Yes or No Picture Page to help your children practice their new knowledge of dog safety. Also check places like Dog Bite Law, Kids and Dogs: Safety First, and Kids and Dogs Safety Tip Sheet.