Tuesday, October 26, 2010

15 Minutes.


My brain is currently on over-load from the long week I just came away from.  I attended a 5-day dog training conference from the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) that consisted of all-day seminars from wonderful dog trainers from all over the world.  We heard Victoria Stilwell of "It's Me or the Dog", John Rogerson from the UK, Ian Dunbar (the inventor of puppy classes and found of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers) and we even heard Temple Grandin speak about canines and emotions.  So I have a lot of blog posts coming, I just have to sort through the material! 

Until then I wanted to get this out there . . . Did you know that in under 15 minutes a day you can train your dog, or any dog? Yeah, more time would be better, but if 15 is all you've got per day then use it! You don't need hours and hours to get a dog to know the who and what of things.

I also like to show people how to make everyday situations a training session. For example, if my dog is in the other room I'll call him excitedly from across the house--"Noah! Come!" He'll come bounding in to me and sit. I happily pet him and say, "Gooood boy!!", then trot myself to the dog food bin and give him about 15 pieces of kibble, one by one. That was a training session for a recall (come when called). 30 seconds. I'm done. I can do it again later too, and again and again. After a while all these little sessions add up and my dog realizes that coming when called is the best thing ever. While this isn't going to proof my dog for real-life situations, it is still a way for me to train throughout the day to solidify basics.

It's best to break up your sessions and implement them in daily life so the dog doesn't respond only "during a session" but at all times. If you only train your dog when you train your dog then you aren't doing something right in between. What I mean by this is: you should take advantage of making everything you do part of your dog's training. This means you practice leadership rules all the time--don't leave toys laying around the house, don't leave food out for free access, don't let them receive attention, food or play by initiating it first, don't talk to a dog that is doing attention seeking behaviors . . . there is a long list of things you can do all day every day that will ensure that your dog not only respects you but listens to you--willingly and happily.

Training is, and should always be, fun. Intimidation and "alpha" rules are ancient history and have been proven wrong and untrue in wolf and dog packs. This means that if you think you are doing "alpha" behaviors to teach your dog who is boss then you are probably going to end up screwing something up. You have to lead with direction and an earn-to-learn philosophy.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Canine Costumes!

So if you aren't on my Adventures Facebook page you need to be!  I can't tell you how much stuff I post on there!  Ask anyone who frequents the site!  Anyway . . . we are having a great Halloween costume contest via Facebook.  Here are all the details . . . 

Get creative with your pooches!  We want to see your dogs in their best Halloween costume ever.  Please post a picture of your pooch in his/her best costume ever!  Details are as follows:

ENTRY DETAILS
  • Entries will be accepted via email (stacy@aictdfw.com) or posted on our Facebook page wall.  If you only send via email we will post it on our Facebook wallIf you do not want your dog's picture on Facebook please do not enter! Be sure to include a description such as the following example: "Scooter is a 2 year old Dachshund dressed as a mummy for Halloween this year.  I made this costume myself.  Owner Jane Smith, janesmith@mail.com."
  • You may enter no more than 3 pictures of the same dog in the same costume.  You may only enter up to 2 costumers per dog.
  • All entries must be sent or posted no later than Friday, October 29th at midnight CST.
  • All pictures will be posted on Facebook.
PRIZES
Judging will take place from Monday, October 25th-Sunday, October 31st.  All winners will be notified via email and announced on Facebook no later than Monday, November 1, 2010.
  • 1ST PLACE: There will be one 1st place winner, who will receive a $20 coupon towards any training service provided by Adventures in Canine Training, Inc. Aggression cases may not use coupons. 
  • 2ND PLACE: There will be one 2nd place winner, who will receive a $10 dollar coupon towards any training service provided by Adventures in Canine Training, Inc. Aggression cases may not use coupons.
  • 3RD PLACE: There will be one 3rd place winner, who will receive a $5 dollar coupon towards any training service provided by Adventures in Canine Training, Inc. Aggression cases may not use coupons.
 All winners will be notified via email and announced on Facebook no later than Monday, November 1, 2010.  Do not forget to include your email address with your photo. Happy tails to you!

We need your vote!

We are competing in the WFAA's A-List of BEST local businesses.  We are in the dog training category and need your votes to keep us on top!  Voting lasts until December so we could fluctuate but hope to stay on top . . . We are currently ranked #2!  Go vote here.