We all know that many of us set New Year’s Resolutions and as the year progresses they begin to fade. This leaves us feeling frustrated, first we have not accomplished what we set out to do and then we feel like a ‘loser’ as we have failed our own expectations.
I don’t know about your but in our home I always put other things as a priority before myself, ‘they say as women we tend to do this”. Anyway this year I thought it would be fun to develop some New Year’s Resolutions for my pets as I never let them down. So I know if all else fails with my other resolutions I will at least have accomplished something!
Here are my top 6 New Year’s Resolutions for you to accomplish with your Dog. They are not in order of priority, just the way they came out when I began to think about it.

 Enhance Your Canine-Human Relationship “The DogSmith’s MTR training eBook is a fantastic resource for all families who are looking to build and maintain basic manners, skills and most of all bonds! This easy to use step by step guide is beautifully designed in a way that invites success for both owner and dog. Once you have this in your hands you will know exactly what you need and how to begin teaching your dog in a fun and rewarding way” (Jennifer Shryock B.A. CDBC – Creator of Dogs & Storks) Download the free e-book here

 Get Your Annual Veterinarian Examination. Many pet owners underestimate the importance of an annual physical exam because their pet seems healthy. Annual exams provide an opportunity to prevent diseases, detect them early, or even avoid them altogether. Many diseases and ailments such as heart disease, kidney disease, and diabetes are not often evident in early stages. Your veterinarian can conduct a comprehensive exam that includes a lab analysis, heart check, and dental exam to ensure top physical shape and optimum health for years to come. Read more

 Become a More Responsible Pet Dog Owner. I believe owning a dog is a privilege not a right. It should be a privilege to own one and a responsibility to care for it. So in 2011 enroll your dog into a ‘Canine Good Citizen™ program. Started in 1989, the CGC™ Program is designed to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. Not only will your dog learn some really nice manners and be awarded a certificate but you will also have to sign ‘The Owners Pledge which details your role in the partnership. Read more

 Teach Your Dog To Walk Nicely. Let’s take the ‘choke’ out of training a ‘walk nicely behavior’ and replace it with clear concise instructions that builds your dog’s behavior repertoire, sets your dog up for success and rewards them when they get it right. This is a far more pleasant situation for both owner and dog. In addition to being an ineffective training method, there are real health concerns when a dog’s head is jerked around. Read more

 Improve Your Pets Diet. In the pet industry probiotics are now one of the key ingredients that pet food buyers look to find in the ingredient list of their pet food. However not all foods are alike and there are differing methods used to incorporate probiotics into the manufacturing process of pet food. These methods range from spraying the probiotics onto cooked, dried kibble to the use of microencapsulated forms of probiotics that are introduced prior to the cooking process. Read more

 Get A PAL Tag Research has shown that most pets that are lost and returned home safely are wearing a collar or tag with their owner’s contact details. Here at the DogSmith® our number one priority is to keep your beloved pet safe and secure. This includes helping you find your pet in the event they are lost. Every DogSmith Pet Care & Training client is eligible for a complimentary identification tag and free registration on our DogSmith PAL® database. The identification tag is imprinted with our toll free number and a unique serial number. Learn more about our PAL® tag system

Niki Tudge – DogSmith Founder. www.DogSmith.com
Phone 1.888.Dog-Smith (364-7648)

CONTACT :Rick Ingram

DogSmith Franchise Services

RickIngram@DogSmith.com

1-888-Dog-Smith (364-7648)

Beat the Heat – Help Save a Life!

The DogSmith of East Pensacola and Santa Rosa County Animal Services have teamed up to offer free dog training classes in an effort to help reduce the number of homeless pets.

Santa Rosa County, Florida, August 2, 2010 – The DogSmith of East Pensacola has teamed up with Santa Rosa County Animal Services to help more cats and dogs find their ‘forever homes.’  The DogSmith, a national dog training and pet care company, will provide free 1-hour dog obedience classes beginning August 7, 2010 at 3:00 PM and then held on the first Saturday of each month thereafter.  Santa Rosa County Animal services are hosting these classes at their facility located at 4451 Pine Forest Rd, Milton, FL 32583.  The DogSmith will also provide free dog bite safety and spay/neuter workshops for facility staff.

According to Christina Horne, Certified Dog Trainer and owner of the local DogSmith, “One of our priorities is to help make dogs more adoptable by providing some of the basic skills dogs need to live happily with their family.  Too often dogs are given up to shelters because of easily corrected behavioral problems.”

Social Responsibility is at the heart of The DogSmith’s Corporate Mission, Vision and Values, which include their commitment to help ‘significantly reduce the number of unwanted pets by supporting animal shelters and rescue organizations, through their deeds, efforts and sponsorship.’

“We encourage anyone who wants a new dog to visit their local shelter or breed rescue group to give a forever home to a dog in need,” says Horne.  The DogSmith also offers a program designed to help families choose the right dog based on their lifestyle and personal preferences.  “And once you’ve adopted your dog we have many programs to help your new pet become family, even free puppy classes,” said Horne.

For more information on Santa Rosa County Animal Services, visit http://204.90.20.174/animals/.  To get your free booklets on housetraining, crate training, and puppy socialization visit www.DogSmith.com or contact your local DogSmith Certified Pet Care Expert and ask for a free “What breed is right for me?” consultation.

About The DogSmith – The DogSmith Franchise Services Inc. is a Florida based company whose mission is to enhance the lives of pets and their owners by improving their relationship, and the quality of the life they share, through providing professional support and training to pet dog owners, supporting and assisting animal shelters and rescue organizations to minimize the number of unwanted animals and offering affordable and professional care to family pets so that pet ownership is never a burden. To learn more about The DogSmith or to become a DogSmith Dog Trainer, visit www.DogSmithFranchise.com or call 1-888-364-7648.

In 1961 Stanley Milgram set out to explain how so many people could heartlessly participate in the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps. Many war criminals justified their actions by saying that they were ordered to carry out these atrocities on other humans and had no choice. Were the Germans inherently cold and evil, or was this a phenomenon that could be repeated under the right circumstances? To answer this question, Milgram created an experiment to research the effect of authority on obedience.

Forty subjects from all different walks of life were recruited. They were told that they would be participating in an experiment about memory and learning where they could be assigned as either “Learner” or “Teacher.” The Teacher would ask the Learner questions and administer an electrical shock if the answer was incorrect. In reality each subject was assigned the role of Teacher and the Learner was an actor, but the subjects were unaware of this. Each one believed that he had just as much of a chance to end up in the Learner chair hooked up to the electrodes as he had of being the one to administer the shocks.

The fake shock generator had 30 different switches marked for levels of voltage ranging from 15 to 450, at 15 volt increments. Descriptions accompanied these labels, such as “slight shock” for the lower levels and “strong shock” at the 180 volt level. The level that went up to 420 volts was labeled “danger:severe” and the highest level, at 450 volts, simply “xxx.” At each wrong answer, the Teacher was instructed to increase the level of shock he administered. The actor playing the part of the Learner would respond to an audio prompt to react to the different levels of shock by starting out with grunts, and escalating his reactions as the shock levels were increased. By 280 volts he would let out agonized screams and complain of heart pain. After 330 volts, he was instructed to go completely silent.

The authority figure was the Experimenter. If the Teacher hesitated in delivering the shock, the Experimenter would verbally prod him to continue. As the actor’s reactions to the different levels of shock were predefined, so were the levels of pressure from the Experimenter, from “please go on” to “it is absolutely essential that you continue.”

As could be expected, most of the subjects were very reluctant to inflict pain on the human trapped in that chair, believing that they could have been assigned that position themselves. And yet every single one of the subjects administered shocks up to the 300 volt level, past the point of screams, begging for mercy, and complaints of heart pain. Amazingly, 65% of the subjects continued to administer shocks all the way to the maximum level of 450 volts after the man in the chair went totally silent. Some of them believed they had already killed the man, and yet they continued caving to the pressure of the Experimenter to deliver more shocks.

This experiment proved that 65% of the subjects – people like you and me – would torture another human being even to the point of death if a person they believed to be in a valid position of authority demanded it.

So how does this relate to dog training?

The veterinarian

After adopting a new puppy or shelter dog, the first authority figure the owners encounter is usually their vet. Though vets are surely experts in medical issues, those who are also well-educated in training and behavior are few and far between. They should be answering questions about training by referring owners to a trainer or behaviorist, but unfortunately some of them take it upon themselves to spout advice based on old wives’ tales and myths.

For example, most young puppies will nip their owners in play and need to be instructed in a scientifically-based and humane way how to behave more appropriately. Far too many vets are telling people to take these trusting, impressionable little tykes, throw them on their backs, and pin them to “show them who’s boss,” an archaic technique referred to as an alpha roll. The owner will certainly feel uncomfortable forcing this technique on a frightened puppy, but usually will do so if their vet tells them to. Dr. Ian Dunbar, author, veterinarian, founder of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and creator of Sirius Dog Training, says, “A wolf would flip another wolf against his will ONLY if he were planning to kill it. Can you imagine what a forced alpha roll does to the psyche of our dogs?”

Another common piece of advice handed out by otherwise well-meaning vets is to handle potty training accidents in the home by dragging your dog to the puddle or pile, forcing him to smell it, and then disciplining the dog either by yelling or smacking him with a rolled-up newspaper. This is a good way to teach your dog not to ever eliminate in front of you, and could possibly cause fear of paper products and/or your hands coming at him. This nonsense does not help to teach him where to eliminate appropriately. In fact, good luck with rewarding your dog for going outside if you have made him afraid to go with you standing there.

Do people want to drag their dogs to a puddle of piddle and bop them in the nose? Not usually. But if your vet tells you to, you probably will – even if it makes you uncomfortable to do so.

Question training and behavioral advice that comes from somebody whose expertise lies in a different field. That’s pretty obvious. What’s not so obvious is that there are far too many “authority figures” out there who claim to be experts in behavior and training, but their actions prove otherwise.

TV trainers

People love to watch reality shows on TV, proven by the proliferation of them over the last decade, and there doesn’t appear to be any abatement of new ones cropping up yet. But is there any reality in reality TV?

TV shows have one purpose, and that’s to entertain and titillate viewers so that they continue to tune into the show. If you were to sit down and watch an entire date shown on the Bachelorette, for example, you’d probably be bored out of your mind. So editors choose certain sound bytes, add dramatic music, even use takes from scenes not related to the one being shown to add the element of drama they’re trying to create. By the time that edited portrayal of the date makes it onto your TV screen, what you see may in actuality have very little relevance to what really happened between the two people.

Unfortunately for dogs everywhere, TV shows about dog training are presented in the same way, for entertainment value alone. Showing a course of therapy for a fear-biter using valid and humane desensitization and classical conditioning techniques would be quite boring. However, setting a dog up for failure by thrusting him into a situation that guarantees a dramatic reaction, and then choking him into a physical collapse makes for very entertaining TV. Real dog trainers watch that clip and are aghast at the abuse that they see. Innocent dog owners who watch it on TV are subject to the Milgram Effect. Cesar Millan and his publicity machine has portrayed him as an ultimate authority on dogs, and therefore not only is the general public blind to the cruelty, many would gladly choose to have it inflicted on their own beloved pets by their TV hero.

This very popular TV personality has brainwashed millions of dog owners into believing that their dogs are trying to achieve “dominance” over them, and that is his rationale to justify the sometimes extreme use of force that he portrays on his program. For a sensible look at what “dominance” means and does not mean, see The Dominance Controversy and Cesar Millan.

With the success of this show has come, and will come, others trying to milk the same cash cow. In Canada there is a popular TV personality named Brad Pattison who makes Millan’s techniques look almost valid. Pattison hits dogs in the face, yanks them violently off their feet for no apparent reason, grabs them and screams in their faces, (later in the same show portrayed in that clip he “teaches” a dog not to go through a door by slamming it on him), and commits other acts of violence in the name of “training.” It’s hard to believe that he has a growing fan club of people who laud him and support his methods. These are not people who hate dogs, they are caring dog owners brainwashed by the Milgram Effect. A TV personality is a powerful authority figure in this society, possibly one of the most powerful.

The fall-out

So if you have a dog who bites, and you have watched these popular programs convincing you that this problem can and should be beaten out of him, would you have considered hiring this trainer?

Jeffrey Loy claims himself to be “the world’s leading authority on the rehabilitation of fighting and biting dogs.” When a couple in NJ needed help with their 6 lb. biter, they hired him for $1,000 a session. After baiting the small dog into biting him, the owners stood by and watched while he viciously beat the small Shih Tzu with a PVC pipe and his bare hands, more than once, and for several minutes at a time. The dog suffered a broken rib, a bruised kidney and liver, and a ruptured blood vessel in its eye, requiring $1,100 in vet care.

The owners stood by and watched. If they had been out walking the dog and a stranger came over and started beating it with a PVC pipe, do you think they would have reacted differently? But here was a self-proclaimed expert that they believed to be an authority figure, so they stood by and allowed this violent beating of their 6 lb. dog to continue. The Milgram Effect.

This is just one isolated recent case of dog abuse perpetrated by an individual who claims to be an expert. Most cases of abuse don’t result in such grievous injury, so much of it is never reported. In fact, again due to the brainwashing power of the media, loving dog owners are often blind to the fact that what is being done to their dogs in the name of training IS abuse. Some of these abusers’ strongest supporters are those whose own dogs have suffered violence at their hands.

What can you do to protect your dog?

If you have a training or behavior issue with your dog, be very careful whose advice you listen to, and especially careful who you hire to help you. There is never a need to use fear, physical force, intimidation or pain in order to train a dog. If an “expert” tells you to do something that makes you in the least uncomfortable, listen to your heart!

There are common-sense guidelines to help you choose a dog-friendly trainer, determine what training tools are necessary and what aren’t, and on the Truly Dog Friendly website are a list of trainers in both the Orlando area and all over the world who have been screened to assure the use of only humane and scientifically-based techniques. (Note: Even though the Association of Pet Dog Trainers mentioned above was created specifically to educate the training community about humane, scientifically-based, dog-friendly training methods, the website’s list of members includes those trainers who use electrical shock collars, spiked prong collars, and other force-based tools and methodologies. Using that listing to choose a trainer is not a guarantee that your dog won’t be subjected to unnecessary intimidation at the very least.)

If you like to watch dog training on TV, you are not completely out of options. Victoria Stilwell is a very competent TV trainer with good, solid advice.

Sourced

The Milgram Experiment and how it relates to dog training

July 9, 4:28 PMOrlando Dog Training and Behavior ExaminerLeah Roberts

Contact:                Rick Ingram

DogSmith Franchise Services

RickIngram@DogSmith.com

1-888-Dog-Smith (364-7648)

Dining For ‘PAWS’

DogFriendly.com lists Florida as one of the “Best states for Outdoor Dog-Friendly Restaurants” placing Fort Walton Beach Fl restaurants ahead of the pack.

Fort Walton Beach, Florida, July 9, 2010 – Increasingly across the US, motels, hotels, restaurants, and watering holes are hanging out the “pets welcome” sign to help their bottom line and offer more options and dining choices for pet owners.  Fort Walton Beach, Florida is ahead of the pack when it comes to doggy friendly dining venues like local eatery Tijuana Flats Burrito Company. Tijuana Flats also plays host to dogs and their owners during regular “Yappy Hours” with the proceeds going to, most recently, the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).  “Yappy Hours” even include a free doggy dining workshop presented by The DogSmith, Dog Training and Pet Care Company.

According to local DogSmith owner Christina Horne, “These events are a fun way to raise money for PAWS and help educate the public on the importance of socializing dogs.  Well mannered dogs and an informed public are the best way to keep the privilege of pet friendly venues alive.  Responsible dog ownership opens doors to new and fun opportunities where we can enjoy our pets in our community.”

Horne invites everyone to join one of her Doggy Dining workshops and to bring your dog if it is well socialized and up-to-date on vaccinations.

Horne also adds that there is some basic doggy etiquette you should always observe while dining out with your pooch.  “The most important thing is to make sure your dog is well socialized and comfortable in a variety of environments.  Also, always call ahead to make sure your pooch will be welcome.  And to avoid creating a trip hazard you should always keep your pooch as close to your table and chair as possible and away from other diners and restaurant staff.  But don’t tie your dog to a table.  You can imagine the mess if your pooch decides to take a walk.  This is where reliable obedience pays off.  Finally, be prepared with your own dish and water bowel so your dog can enjoy their meal with you.”

To find your next furry family member or to donate to PAWS visit  http://paws-shelter.com/.

For a free guide to puppy socialization or to enroll in a free puppy class go to www.DogSmith.com.

About The DogSmith – The DogSmith Franchise Services Inc. is a Florida based company whose mission is to enhance the lives of pets and their owners by improving their relationship, and the quality of the life they share, through providing professional support and training to pet dog owners, supporting and assisting animal shelters and rescue organizations to minimize the number of unwanted animals and offering affordable and professional care to family pets so that pet ownership is never a burden. To learn more about The DogSmith or to become a DogSmith Dog Trainer, visit www.DogSmithFranchise.com or call 1-888-364-7648.

The types of social behaviors dogs demonstrate can be broadly grouped into either distance decreasing or distance increasing.  A dog uses distance decreasing behaviors to promote approach, play and continued interaction.   A lumbering soft gait, relaxed body and a relaxed face indicate the dog is encouraging interaction. Dogs who want to engage in play will demonstrate the ‘play bow,’ a posture where the dog bows the front of his/her body so that the front legs are parallel to the ground while the hindquarters remain in the standing position, the dog may offer you a paw, lean into you or rub against you.

Distance increasing signals vary and can be easily misread. The distance increasing signals we all seem to ‘get’ are when a dog stands upright making  each part of their body appear as large as possible, weight on the front legs, upright tail, upright ears, piloerection (the hair on their back stands up), and the dog will bark or growl. We seem to instinctively react to these signals and take them as the warning they are.

The distance increasing signals that we commonly misinterpret are the more appeasing behaviors dogs demonstrate.  Dogs use these appeasement behaviors to make friendly encounters more reliable and to help them pacify what they anticipate to be a hostile encounter if escape is impossible for them. These behaviors are a nonaggressive way to ‘cut off’ conflict. When a dog displays these behaviors we have to recognize that this is the dog’s way of showing us that they are unsure and a little scared.

You may see appeasement signals in one of two ways.  Passive appeasement behaviors are easily misunderstood and are often labeled as ‘submissive.’  Dogs displaying passive appeasement will present themselves in a recumbent position exposing the underside of their body.  The dog’s ears are typically back and down against the head and the tail is often tucked between the upper legs.  Sometimes the dog will expel a small amount of urine while it waits for the attention to cease. The active appeasement dog is often incorrectly labeled as ‘excited’ or ‘overly friendly.’  They will often approach you with the whole rear-end wagging in a “U” shape allowing both its face and genital area to be inspected and they may be desperate to jump up and ‘get in your face’.

For humans then, it is important when meeting and greeting dogs to be able to recognize if a dog is friendly and wanting to greet you or if the dog is experiencing stress or fear. A conflicted dog will want to approach but is too scared or unsure of the outcome. Their body language will vacillate between displays of distance decreasing behaviors and distance increasing behaviors. Interacting with a dog that is conflicted can be risky. If you make a wrong move and the dog cannot avoid the approach then they may become aggressive.  This is often the case with a fear biter.  If a dog is demonstrating ambivalent, mixed signals then it is advisable to avoid sudden movements, and to allow the dog an escape route. Don’t force the meet and greet by moving toward the dog or having the dogs’ owner manipulate the dog toward you.

In general when you meet and greet a dog make sure you have a relaxed posture. Let the dog approach you, turn slightly to the side as this is less threatening for the dog than you standing in a full frontal position leaning over them.  Always ask permission from the dog’s owner to pet their dog. Talk gently to the dog without making eye contact.  It helps to crouch down and keep your hands by your side without making any sudden movements. When you have determined the dog is not showing any signs of stress or fear and their body language is relaxed and happy then you can slowly move your hand under their chin to stroke them. If the dog is showing passive appeasement signals, as described above, then step away, give them space and allow them to approach you on their terms and in their preferred timing.

It is important that we recognize a dog’s “cut off’ behaviors.  ‘Cut off’ behaviors are designed to cut off the social contact. If, when greeting a dog, you don’t recognize that the dog is  scared or stressed or you choose to ignore the dog’s communication and push forward with your approach you  are unfairly pushing the dog into a situation where it may only be left with one option and not a favorable option to either dog or human.

Dogs will typically give plenty of warning if they are uncomfortable with something that another dog or a person is doing.   These warning signs may include a direct stare, a rigid body, a growl and showing “whale eye” (flashing the whites of their eyes). The dog’s ears will be flat against the head and they may have a closed tense mouth, if you see any of these signals then stop what you are doing immediately and allow the dog to slowly back away.

Dogs are wonderful animals that love and need to be a part of our social lives.  But, like people, their personalities range from being social butterflies to wallflowers. Tailor your approach and greeting style based on the communication they are giving you. Dogs are very clear with their intentions and emotions and respond appropriately to ours.  Remember our body language and approach speaks louder than our words to a dog.

Niki Tudge is the owner and founder of The DogSmith, America’s Dog Training, Dog Walking and Pet Care Franchise.

Niki Tudge CPDT-KA, E-Nadoi, CBC, AABP- PDT, DIP. ABT,

Pet Care Services CPCT, CAPCT,

AKC “CGC” Evaluator

You can reach Niki via email at NikiTudge@DogSmith.com or www.DogSmith.com

To learn more about joining the DogSmith visit http://www.DogSmithFranchise.com

The DogSmith Pensacola offers free training seminars to local rescue organizations and their employees on dog body language.  Visit www.DogSmith.com.chorne for more information.

Depending on your dog, your family and your lifestyle, housetraining a dog can be anywhere from easy, to almost impossible.  Many dog owners get lucky and in spite of mistakes they unknowingly make, they find themselves with a housetrained dog. On the other hand, some dog owners need help from a dog trainer or dog behavior counselor.  Even a small number of these pet owners may become desperate when everything they do, even under professional counsel, seems futile.

The more difficult house training cases to crack are those of dogs that, by mistake, have become ‘reverse’ house-trained by their owners.  ‘Reverse’ house-training results when dogs have been allowed to go to the bathroom inside the home and then been inadvertently reinforced for doing so.  Another difficult house-training example to correct includes puppies from pet stores, puppy mills and backyard breeders where the puppies have been raised in contained, unsanitary conditions.  Since they have no alternative these puppies eat and sleep in the same area they use as their bathroom.

So, when you bring a new puppy or rescue dog into your home, or if have an older dog that is not yet house-trained, follow our “Ten Rules to House-training” and you should be relieved (no pun intended) to find in ten days you have a house-trained dog.

Managing the Environment

1. The first thing you need to do before you start your house-training plan is to ensure your home is free from urine stains and residual odors. Purchase a black light and a pet odor remover from your local pet store. When it is dark, turn off all the lights and thoroughly inspect your home, carpets, furniture and tiled area. The black light will reveal any old stains so you can effectively clean and remove them. There are many very effective pet stain/odor cleaning products available on the market.
2. If you don’t already have one, purchase a good quality wire crate that is large enough for your dog to stand up, lie down and turn around in.  Position the crate in a quiet, but not isolated part of your home.  You will also need three Kongs (chew toys you can stuff with treats), a squeaky toy, a nylon collar and a 6 foot nylon leash.
3. Develop and follow a 24 hour management schedule of potty breaks.  This is critical because you don’t want your puppy to have an accident.   Your schedule should include meals, play time, training time, bathroom breaks and sleep time for the entire 10 day program. Bathroom breaks should be scheduled every four hours except overnight when you can allow 6 hours. The plan should also include two or three feeding sessions, one in the morning, one midday and the last one no later than 6pm. Your dog should not have access to drinking water after 8pm or three hours before it goes into its crate to sleep for the night.
4. If you can’t be home during the midday break, either schedule some time off work or hire a dog walker or pet sitter that can help you with that portion of your house-training schedule. This will be vital for success.
5. Keep a daily journal on your dog’s eating schedule and bathroom habits. Note when your dog urinates and defecates. Note the exact time your dog eats and any other treats it is given during the day.  Your journal will help you determine how long after eating and drinking your dog typically needs to use the bathroom.  You can use this information to adjust your schedule if necessary.
6. Your dog’s day will include meals, sleep, play, training and bathroom breaks. During each of these periods the dog is either in its crate or tethered to you. Give your dog a Kong stuffed with yummy treats for mental enrichment while it is in its crate. Your dog must be supervised 100% of the time during the house-training period.  When the dog is tethered to you, watch for signs of needing to go to the bathroom. If you notice your dog sniffing the ground, walking in circles or looking uncomfortable then quickly take the dog outside to its designated bathroom area and follow rule number 7.

Training the Behavior

1. At the scheduled bathroom times take your dog from its crate, on a leash, and take it to its designated bathroom area. Keep your dog on its 6 foot leash but let it explore while you stand in one spot. Initially ignore your dog.  Because your dog isn’t getting any attention from you and there will be limited things of interest to explore in the restricted area defined by the leash, your dog will eventually go to the bathroom.
2. Once your dog has finished, praise it with ‘good doggie.’  Give it lots of attention and treats. Have a little celebration with your dog.  This lets your dog know that its behavior is remarkable and deserves praise.  You MUST create a situation where your dog wants to go to the bathroom in that particular area.
3. Only after your dog has been to the bathroom should it be let off the leash to play or taken for its ‘long’ walk.  This ensures that your dog will soon learn that the more quickly it completes its bathroom behavior the more quickly it gets its reward of treats, play, its walk or all three. ALWAYS exercise or play with or train your dog for at least ten minutes before you take it back inside to its crate.

Developing the Relationship

1. Show your dog you are a trusting and benevolent leader. Never punish your dog for mistakes.  Your dog’s accidents are your accidents. If, as described in rule 6, you notice your dog displaying signs of needing the bathroom while inside and you are slow getting your dog outside, simply get their attention with a loud clap of your hands and immediately take your dog outside to their bathroom area (you can clean up any inside accident later).

When dogs are exposed to consistent, accident-free house-training systems you will be surprised at how quickly they learn. With the right level of commitment and conscientious use of a training schedule you can train a dog to be solidly house-trained in ten days.

For a FREE copy of the House training plan contact your local DogSmith www.DogSmith.com or 1-888-Dog-Smith (364-7648)

Does your dog demonstrate signs of fear and nervousness when left alone?  Separation anxiety has become a bit of a “catch-all” phrase in the dog world but dog’s can experience varying levels of anxiety, fear and nervousness when left on their own.  For serious cases with complex causes, especially if your dog has become self destructive, consulting a Dog Trainer who is a qualified Behavior Analyst is recommended.

When trying to help your pooch become relaxed and calm when left alone the first thing you should do is take it to your vet so you can be sure its nervous behavior isn’t caused by a medical condition.

Once your vet has determined your dog is physically fit the next step is to make sure your pooch is getting adequate exercise and mental stimulation.  And however much physical and mental exercise Fido may be getting now, increase it. Just like humans, exercise will help your dog’s brain regulate mood and reduce nervous behavior.  Exercise alone will often reduce your pooches anxiety and nervousness. A dog that is well exercised will be more relaxed and less likely to display destructive behaviors.  A tired dog is a happy dog.

Diet can also be a factor.  Poor quality foods use ingredients like corn which can alter the brain’s ability to moderate mood by causing an imbalance in amino acids and brain functioning.  The result of these imbalances can be an animal that becomes agitated, impulsive, obsessive and over-reactive. Always ensure your pet is fed a high quality diet free of corn, wheat, soy, hormones/steroids, by-products, artificial colors/flavors, or chemical preservatives.

Dogs often display anxiety, (pacing, whining, barking, inappropriate chewing, etc.) out of pure loneliness and boredom.  If you suspect that boredom may contribute to your dog’s anxiety look into some of the excellent interactive toys now available for pets.  You can even use toys that will dispense your dog’s meals keeping it mentally stimulated figuring out how to get its breakfast.  Your pooch may not even notice you’ve gone to work.

Another important technique for your dog’s general well being is to make sure your dog is getting quality “face” time with you and your family.  They are pack animals and we are their pack.  And there is nothing like enrolling your dog in an obedience or agility course, using strictly positive methods, to help build a strong relationship between you and your dog.  Also, consider putting your pooch into daycare or hiring a dog walker.  Your dog will greatly benefit from the additional exercise and companionship.

Finally, one of the most effective methods of ensuring a happy, confident and well-mannered dog in general is to ‘crate-train’ it.  A properly crate-trained dog feels relaxed, safe and secure in its crate (download our free e-book on crate-training).

Whichever of these techniques you use, success will come with time, patience and consistency.  And under no circumstance should you punish your dog for anxious behaviors as that tends to make the condition worse.  Remember, if your dog’s condition seems severe, especially where it may harm itself, consult a Canine Behavior Analyst.   A Behavior Analyst is equipped to identify the root cause of your dog’s destructive behaviors and can guide you through a customized program of training tailored for your particular situation.

Who is The DogSmith

The DogSmith provides professional pet care services to homes and multi-family communities. Since 2006 The DogSmith has been providing the best in dog training, pet care, pet sitting, group dog training, home alone visits, dog walks and pooper scooper service to hundreds of clients across America. For more information contact The DogSmith at www.DogSmith.com. We also offer Pet Business Franchise opportunities.

Do you know what The DogSmith does?

Here are a number of things that we specialize in : pet franchise, dog training, dog behavior counseling, pet sitting, dog walking, pet nutrition, pet waste station servicing, group dog training, private dog training, obedience dog training, puppy training, in home pet care, dog day care, canine good citizen testing, puppy star classes, dog behavior modification.

We service the following areas.

Santa Rosa Beach, Shalimar, Fort Walton Beach, Navarre, West Palm Beach, Lynn Haven, Eglin, Niceville, Panama City, Panama City Beach, 30A, Southport, Pensacola, Crestview, Chipley, Bonifay, Dothan, Enterprise, Graceville, Freeport, Florida, Alabama, Texas,

I drove carefully, looking at him periodically to see what he was up to in the back. At one point I heard him snuffling about, and when I looked back, he was sitting down, gazing back at me calmly. We arrived at Petland, and he dragged me across the parking lot up to the massive melee of shelter dogs and their handlers in front of the pet store. Tricia greeted me and gave me the heads up that they had very little history on the dog. We immediately had a brief meet and greet with the other dogs who ranged in breed and size, and I learned a few things about my little red nosed friend. 1. He LOVES girls: kids, women, female dogs, it didn’t matter, there was enough of him to go around, and he walked around licking most of the dogs he met on the muzzle. 2. He wanted to PLAY, and when I mean play, I mean WRESTLE. (Whether or not the other dog was into it).  There was too much going on right in front of the door (even though it would have been an excellent place to receive occasional blasts of AC), so we went to the corner of the strip mall, where there was a natural breeze blowing between the two buildings. I immediately camped out and figured we would interact with plenty of people coming down the sidewalk from TJ Maxx. Boy was I right, in fact, it was the perfect location. He interacted with TONS of people, and I quickly learned even MORE things about him. 3. His social skills were FANTASTIC. He allowed people of all shapes, ages and races to pet him. Hats, Afros, beards, and tall men didn’t faze him at all. 4. He clearly liked interacting with strangers, and wagged his tail with increasing enthusiasm throughout the day. I was excited, because he got a LOADS of attention, and he ate it up. He made friends with two little old ladies clearly out shopping for apparel, and they came to see him twice before they left, arms laden with bags.  When he became over stimulated, he would walk around the corner, and hide behind the corner of the building for a minute. Each time he hid, I postponed interaction with strangers for about 10 minutes, and we just relaxed. The heat was oppressive, even in the shade, and Tyler periodically sacked out on the concrete, panting and offering his belly to anyone that walked by. He worked the crowd skillfully, and logged quite a bit of belly rub quality time. He was soft, sweet and social ( a killer combination really). I was messing about with his paws, looking in his mouth and ears and checking his neuter scar when I caught that lovely pit bull tail across the cheek. WHAP!! Eyes watering I raised my gaze, and saw a little girl running down the sidewalk. “Can I pet your dog” she asked, as she extended a grubby paw towards my beefy friend. “You sure can”, I replied, “but you have to ask your mommy first”.  She spun immediately on her heel and screeched down the corridor, “MOMMY CAN I TOUCH THE DOGGY!?!!?!” “Why don’t you go get her” I suggested quickly, figuring that even though mom was 3 stores back, she might want to be present for her daughter’s interaction with a strange shelter dog. When mom finally caught up, I gave the little girl a small piece of chicken and showed her how to offer it to him with a flat palm. She dropped it at first, like the 20 children before her did, and I picked it up and told her to just “shove it in his face”. After he gently lipped the treat from her hand, he leaned in and licked her face when she was looking at her mom with glee. We got pictures, and spent most of the day interacting with every single child that walked down that sidewalk. Halfway through the day, that tail started whipping back and forth just at the sight of a child coming down the sidewalk.

By the time 1pm came around, we were both sacked out on the side-walk. Tyler gave one last toddler a drooly kiss and I decided to call it a day. I wanted to end on a good point, and so far we had two couples that were really interested in him, and several hours of positive socialization for the big ham. We checked in and went back to the shelter. I petted his silky soft ears for the last time, and turned him over to a staff member to go back to his kennel. He ran to the door that lead to the kennels and wagged his tail eagerly. I turned to give the adoption coordinator updated info for his file, and saw the couple from Petland with their dogs wading through the traffic in the lobby from the dogs arriving from the event. Wow, I thought, they practically beat us here!! I smiled the entire 40 minute ride home, thinking about all the ways Tyler hammed it up for the many strangers he met that day.

I wasn’t home for an hour before I got a text message saying Tyler had been adopted. Well, I thought to myself, all in a days work.