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

No one won last month’s “Where’s Karlie” so we thought we would run it again this month. We did have a couple of people tell us where Karlie was but that doesn’t count! Grab your dog and your camera and go take a picture. Then send it to me via email to win a prize!

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.

The Dawg Trainer is a big supporter of Delta Waterfowl and we are looking forward to their annual dinner. To learn more about Delta Waterfowl or to learn more about their dinner, check www.stldelta.org or call Dan Patrick at 314-537-1796.

The Dawg Trainer is proud to announce finding a food that will not break the bank but will also supply your favorite pet’s daily nutritional needs. What is the name of this food you ask? Life’s Abundance! Life’s Abundance is made by Healthy Pet Net/Trilogy and can not be found in stores and can only be found online. This keeps your pet’s food fresh. The company does not keep food on the shelves for more than 6 weeks so there are not the preservatives in this food that you find in food at the stores. Food at the stores tests the quality of their products about once a year; Trilogy test the quality of their products with every delivery. This way they know the contents of their pet food line does not change. This also keeps the company from needing to recall any of their food.

One of the first things you notice when you start checking into Life’s Abundance is the ingredient list. When you look at the ingredient list of any food, look at the first 5 listed ingredients - 3 in the list of 5 should be a protien. Those items are the majority of your dog food. You can check how your food rates with Life’s Abundance by clicking here.

Also check the recommend amount to feed. I know when I started feeding it that I was able to cut the amount that my dogs ate almost in half.

Since most of the ingredients are absorbed during digestion; that also mean less to clean up in the back yard.

You can also set up your order to auto ship. No more trips to the store after getting home from work to pick up dog food because you forgot Fido was out. Your food will be delivered to your front door.

Healthy Pet Net also carries a line supplements, skin care sprays, grooming supplies.

If you would like to learn more about Life’s Abundance, please email or call me. I’ll be happy to talk to you about it. You can also click here to look at the website to order free samples or for more information.

Here is a picture of Luke with his new owner, Chris in their back yard. Chris contacted The Dawg Trainer a few weeks ago after seeing Luke on PetFinder. Chris and his family set an appointment to come out and meet Luke. Luke liked the family as much as the family liked Luke. They looked like the perfect match. Luke now has his own family to love and watch over him and I’m sure he will do the same for them.

The Dawg Trainer is pleased to announce Moses passing his AKC WC. Moses preformed well just like PJ thought he would. Congrats Moses and Moses’ owner, Karen!

This Saturday, Oct. 11th, 2008, will be the annual Delta Waterfowl fundraiser at Gateway Outfitters. The Dawg Trainer has always been a big supporter of Delta Waterfowl and is looking forward to supporting them again this year with raffles and speaking on How to Train Your Retriever at 2 PM. Group Pet Class will take place at the same location at 4 PM so we can work with your dogs in a public setting. I will be on site with Kane, Hunter and Force! Come help raise funds and awareness for Delta Waterfowl at Gateway Outfitters!