Mac!

Mac!

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Interesting articles

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/November-Newsletter---Human-Centered-Dog-Training.html?soid=1109003465707&aid=YJGPbLooM5o

Saturday, October 22, 2016

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

The Unexpected Benefits of Training

http://www.clickertraining.com/the-unexpected-benefits-of-training

Sneak Peak at coming events

Hey guys! I have several exciting things coming up. I'll send you an email soon with all the details but here's a sneak preview-👀

Therapy Dogs in Training class starting Nov 5th east side and Nov 6 west side. Email me to sign up. I already have 4 on the east side signed up and 2 on the west side.🐶

Pigs in Training class starting Oct 22. I already have the limit on capacity but if you and your pig are interested, email me. There might be more classes coming.🐷

Oct Park Walk will include a Halloween Costume Contest for dogs. Prizes in 6 categories. Happy Halloween!🎃

Watch your inbox for more details. And watch for a Live Feed from me here soon! Got lots to share including some fantastic trainees helping in classes now! Stay tuned......👍

Saturday, October 8, 2016

Stubborn dog?

http://smartdoguniversity.com/how-to-deal-with-a-stubborn-dog-full-article/

Sunday, September 18, 2016

Our September Park Walk!

Our September Park Walk! 👟 - Our September Park Walk is next Sunday Sept 25th 6pm at Triple Creek Park 2700 Buell Rd 45251. We will be doing the parkour trail and walking around the lake if there's time. As always, bring a donation for a rescue if you can-dog/cat/puppy food, treats, toys, blankets-new or gently used. It will be lots of fun!

Remember Level 3 classes on sale for two more weeks! 8 weeks $88. So if you and your dog have completed 3 levels of Puppy classes or 2 levels of Adult/adolescent classes and want to learn more-this sale is for you! 🐶

Hope to see you all soon!

Your positive trainer,
Lydia
513-266-2812

Monday, September 12, 2016

Seven Reasons to use Reward Based Training

http://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2016/06/seven-reasons-to-use-reward-based-dog.html?m=1

Saturday, September 10, 2016

Cancellation!

Tonight's Help for Reactive Dogs Class at Otto Armleder Park is cancelled due to rain. Back next week at 6pm!

Monday, September 5, 2016

Treat Training

"TREAT TRAINING"  There is no such thing. Treats are used by any animal trainer who knows what he or she is doing. Using food as reinforcement in training is not a unique type of training, it's just plain good training, based on decades of animal research. Food treats, whatever is appropriate for the animal being trained, whether a dog, cat, bird or dolphin, strengthens the behavior which it follows and increases the likelihood the behavior will be repeated. Some people think their dog should work for praise only. This is unreasonable. While praise can be reinforcing to many dogs, praise alone, especially in the early stages of training, is not a very efficient or effective way to build strong behaviors.

Cindy Ludwig, Canine Connection LLC
www.clicker.solutions

Sunday, September 4, 2016

My Handsome Sage

He's ten. He's so handsome! I tell him every day. He was shedding for a bit and looked raggedy but his coat has come back in so beautifully! Maybe I'll bring him to the next park walk since it's close. Watch for an email soon about that. But he's not as social as he used to be. He'll wear a yellow scarf for space. We'll see. 

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Stress!

https://positively.com/contributors/can-my-dog-be-stressed-part-1/

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

No classes tonight!

I think we're cancelling tonight's classes at Clippard Park. Looks like we're gonna get hit with storms again from here. See you next week!

Friday, August 12, 2016

And this little piggy went to.......training!

It's a thing now-pet pigs. Maybe it's been a thing and I never noticed. Mini pigs. But actually I've found there isn't such a thing. Pigs grow till they are 3 or 4 years old. They can start out cute and little. And wind up HUGE. We're talking 150 to 200 pounds huge! And as I'm finding out folks have little to no experience with them. They are not like dogs in that they are prey animals, not predators like our dogs. They are herbivores not carnivores like our dogs. They can live for 20 years or longer. And most who do train them use aversive methods. Force. Something called Move The Pig. 

So I'm setting out on a path to learn more about them and from what I'm learning they can be taught using positive reward based training. And if folks are going to keep them as house pets, they surely need manners. And surely not aversively taught. Who wants to be adversaries with a 200 pound pig?

My new goal is to help pig owners train their house pet pigs to have manners in a positive force free method to promote better relationships and keep pigs in their homes. So you may see pigs in training in my classes. You may see therapy pigs in training. Stay tuned.......🐷


Sunday, July 31, 2016

Our Park Walk today!

Hey! Don't forget our Park walk today at 6pm Miami Whitewater at the Harbor. Should be great weather. Bring a donation of dog food, treats, toys, blankets, beds. Gently used or new for Sheltered Paws. Their fosters can really use them. They take dogs from the SPCA and foster them in their homes. Awesome! See you there!

Monday, July 25, 2016

Is it hot enough for ya?

Classes at Otto Armleder Park tonight cancelled due to excessive heat. Join us Wednesday at the cool, comfortable Family Pet Center. And maybe a special guest.....

Sunday, July 24, 2016

Your point is.....

I'm sure there's a few of you who wonder why I post things here and on my Facebook page and other social media sights that have nothing to do with dogs. You might see giraffes, pigs, horses, Turkey vultures, crocodiles and more. And here's why-positive force free training works on all animals. I am so passionate about this.

I just saw a former client of mine go to the dark side. A negative trainer that uses force. Breaks my ❤. It will come to no good end. It never does. I remember she wanted to put a prong collar on her young puppy. She was upset I wouldn't allow that in class. Guess she wanted him to rush past kindergarten right into high school.

Training takes time. Relationships take time. But pain training does not. One good jerk can scare a dog in a heartbeat. Then they do things out of fear.

Not my dogs, not in my classes, not on my watch. That's why I share and talk so much about other species. If you can positively train a 450 lb gorilla, shouldn't it be just as easy to train your dog without pain. It is. It really is.

Saturday, July 23, 2016

It's TOO HOT!

Our Park Walk scheduled for tomorrow at 6pm at Miami Whitewater is rescheduled for next Sunday July 31 6pm. It's just too hot. I'm so worried about my pups and their folks getting overheated. We had a class this morning outside at 10:30am and we roasted. Please bring a donation for a rescue next week if you can. Our designated rescue next week is Sheltered Paws and I hear they don't get many donations for their fosters. Let's load them up! Mark you calendars and see you next week!

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Puppy help!

https://issuu.com/petprofessionalguild/docs/bftg_july_2016_opt/34

Welcome Back Basil!

Basil's back after being attacked (again) by loose dogs. She took some time off to heal. Classmates Mia and Jessie helped her feel safe around dogs again. Great job girls!

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Gabby and the newbie

Isn't she just the sweetest? Coming soon to a puppy class near you-Pierce!

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Sunday, June 26, 2016

Living Life in Fear of Pain

Can't stop thinking about this. Broke my heart to see it. So I decided to write a blog post hoping it will help someone. So maybe just one dog won't have to live their life in fear of pain

Yesterday I saw a puppy grad of mine walking with their owners. ON A PRONG COLLAR. First of all you all know I HATE them. So why would you walk your dog on a prong collar into my puppy class? Secondly, this dog is one of the smartest, most gentlest, sweetest dog ever. So why is she in a prong collar? And third, if you needed more training help with her, why didn't you come back to class, or call or email or text me?

I know what they will say. "It doesn't hurt her." I'm sorry to tell you that if it didn't hurt, there'd be no point. Your dog listens because they are afraid of the pain. Truly if that's the kind of relationship you want with your dog, so be it. A life lived in fear of pain.

Lots of countries ban them. Most of your top dog trainers around the world do not use them. Zoo animals of every species and size are trained without pain. You can too.

I'm for joy filled, positive, reward based, force free, fear free, relationship building, choice based, love filled training. How about you?

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Congrats are in order!

Wonderful dog team of Beth, Kathryn, Titan and Toben just finished a fantastic 24 classes with me! Their dedication, hard work and true love of their dogs shines brightly. Both dogs earned their AKC Canine Good Citizen Award and are on their way to becoming Therapy Dogs. Congrats on a job well done! Can't wait for this team to bring lots of happiness and joy to folks everywhere!

Thursday, June 16, 2016

4 Things Humans Do That Dogs Love

http://www.kristibenson.com/blog/2016/4/20/four-things-humans-do-that-dogs-love
 

Saturday, June 11, 2016

Cancelling the Help for Reactive Dogs class today at 12pm.

It's going to be too hot today. Cancelling our Help for Reactive Dogs class today at 12pm. Stay cool and see you next week!

Friday, June 10, 2016

Take a breather!

https://zoomdogblog.wordpress.com/2016/05/16/breather-behaviors/?platform=hootsuite

Sunday, June 5, 2016

Sunday morning blues

Allow me a rant for a moment. I just saw it again on Facebook. A dog is abandoned, abused, fearful. Lucky enough to get into a rescue or shelter. Or maybe even a home of his own. And what do folks want to do? Stick a shock collar on them! Seriously? There's so much science out there that supports and proves positive training is best that shock, pain and aversive training hurts and can ruin dogs. And yet people continue to use them.

Are you just lazy or have you bought into the crap that the shock collar trainers are feeding you. Oh it doesn't hurt them, oh it's just a tickle or a static shock. Don't do it. Just don't. Save your thousands of dollars they charge. Save your dog's emotional, physical and mental health. And go with positive.

And don't buy the hype that big dogs need a firm hand. Or certain breeds do. All dogs need and deserve to be trained without force or pain.

And I'm not just one voice for dogs crying out in the wilderness. Many of the top, best trainers all over the world train force free. Read the studies, listen to them, listen to me. And get those stupid shock collars off your dogs. Throw them away and do some real training. I'll show you how.

Friday, June 3, 2016

Thursday, June 2, 2016

Cancelling tonight!

Pouring here at the park. Cancelling for tonight. See you Sat at the store or next week here!

How smart?

http://www.bedlamfarm.com/2016/06/01/how-smart-are-dogs-fates-story-canine-consciousness/

Great article on Resource Guarding

http://grishastewart.com/resource-guarding/

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

An Important Read

http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/risks-of-heartworm-drugs/?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=organic&utm_term=new&utm_content=risks-of-heartworm-drugs&utm_campaign=heartworm+guide

Muzzle up

http://lifeasahuman.com/2016/pets/friendly-dogs/

Friday, May 27, 2016

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Damn rain. We need to build an ark. Seriously.

Classes cancelled tonight. It is still pouring. We need to build an ark. Who's with me here? My back yard grass is is high as an elephant's eye. I think snakes live back there now. They are not going on my ark. You and your dog can. Reserve your spot now.

Monday, May 9, 2016

Classes cancelled for tonight!


It's raining, it's pouring. Ugh. Classes cancelled for tonight. Been raining here for the last 30 mins. Will it ever stop? 

Sunday, May 8, 2016

On the right path

My newest AKC STAR Puppies! I'm so very proud of them. They are training with no pain, no force, no prong and no choke. And excelling I might add.

There's never a need for pain and these great owners and dogs are a testimony to positive training. And they have fun. And their dogs learn.

Now they are going to graduate in a few short weeks. They and their pups got the best start by training early, often and positive. So proud😎

Sunday, May 1, 2016

Desmond in his Foster Grants!


At the Bass Pro with puppies!

We had so much fun last night at Bass Pro. All the pups behaved well with the exception of a couple accidents which their owners took care of and continued on. And Desmond bumped his eye which caused some concern. But he's a champ and carried on. Fun time had by all.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Here's the dynamic duo-Mac and Tulip. Buddies, friends, partners in crime. Love these two. You will probably see more of them in future Park Walks. I can't wait to bring them. You will love the parks I've chosen. I'll reveal them each month. Stay tuned!

Monday, April 4, 2016

Here's Boomer!!!!!!

Congrats fellow Pyrenees! Great job!

My Come Back Pups!


Here's a pic of my Come Back Pups. My Never Say Quit Team. They passed 9 of 10 of their AKC Canine Good Citizen test. They will kill it next time! Go team!

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

It's Shocking!

Shock collars. Why. Just why. You don't have to hurt your dog to train your dog. Period.

And that begs the question: why do no kill rescues need to use shock collars to train dogs in their care? A local rescue (and there's probably more) proudly boasts the dogs up for adoption are trained. And you clearly see the shock collar on them. Are they so ignorant as to fall for the slick shock collar trainers lies? Don't they read all the info out there on how harmful they are both short term and long term? There are many articles, links, websites, pics and more to back me up.

Do they not know many countries ban shock collars as inhumane? It boggles my mind. It really does.

My warning to you, dear dog owners, is to be aware! Don't fall for the lies-it doesn't hurt, it's just a touch, a tickle, your dog is completely trained off leash now that you use this E(read Shock)collar.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK! Read about how harmful they are, what damage they cause, and JUST DON'T USE THEM. Find a positive force free trainer to help you. Don't accept less.

Monday, March 14, 2016

A Fatal Trip on the Dark Side

A dog lost her life. Why should I care? Because she was a past student in my classes. Beautiful, playful and full of life. I just found out today that her owner put her down. I still can't believe it.

Let me back up and give you the "rest of the story". 

She started off right in my puppy classes, graduated, and I even made some visits to her home. Regular puppy stuff-jumping, biting, getting into stuff. I've had pups from this breeder before in my classes and they do very well.

But the owner expected perfection. Now. So she goes to one of the worst trainers in town. Notorious for his pain inflicted training. Pays him many times what she paid for my classes and proceeds to train her with pain. You know, prong collar, jerking, yelling and who knows what else. Grown people fear him as he is so mean. Folks walk out of his class, shocked at how he trains. 

This goes on for months, maybe even a year. So now she lunges, snaps ,growls at the owner when she attempts to get her out of her kennel. Diagnosed with a Neurological disorder, owner puts her down.

Both you and I know different. The punitive, fear based training ruined her relationship with her owner. And what's more, someone saw this early on and tried to buy the dog from her. Cash right now. Nope. I would have taken her at anytime along the way. Nope. Never got another call. 

I'm heartbroken, sad, angry, and disgusted. Makes me sick actually. She put her trust in this trainer. It cost her dog her life. I will always remember you, Aspen. 

Monday, February 29, 2016

One more of my babies.

First-Mac, Tulip and Nitrox. Then my fancy art pic of Sage. Awesome.
 
 
 
 


And my new Puppy Class students! Brilliant!



Some pics for you!

 
Park Walk February
We had 16 dogs and owners join us yesterday for our February Park Walk. We couldn't ask for a better day. So much fun. Stay tuned for March Park Walk date and place. Coming soon to your inbox. Enjoy!  
 
 
 
 
 








Monday, February 15, 2016

#rippohthedog

Poh the dog passed away this past Friday evening in the arms of his mum and pops. We knew it was coming but we were not ready. Are you ever ready to lose a loved one? They shared this last year of Poh's life on Instagram with 100,000+ of their fan friends. Pics of his awesome bucket list journies. His mum and pop even got married this year and included Poh. We all felt close to this little, awesome family and their super loving care for their elderly dog. They taught us so much and let us all love Poh along the way. I got to meet them this fall and took this pic. Wonderful, loving folks. My ❤ goes out to them. Poh was their baby and everybody's dog. We grieve with you. And thank you for sharing Poh with us. See you on the other side, buddy!

Monday, February 1, 2016

Some pics for you!

Blu. He's adorable.

Me and Boomer

Newbie-Sarge!

Two new Therapy Dogs-Gandalf and Navi!

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Some pics from our first Park Walk last Sunday. Cold but sunny and fun. 9 dogs with their owners. I will be bringing mine to the walks but I wasn't sure how many would show or how it would go. All dogs behaved fabulously and even played some and met new doggy friends. Next one will be on the east side. Watch your inbox for my newsletter coming soon with all the details. Spring is coming. I feel it.

Friday, January 22, 2016

Snow?

So far just scattered random flakes here. Classes on tonight but stay tuned as it could change.

Friday, January 15, 2016

Positive Training Works!

I'm so passionate about positive training. I've seen the harm fear and pain training do to a dog. How it breaks his spirit. How it ruins relationships between people and their dogs. How it shuts a dog down. Takes the joy and sparkle from their eyes and hearts.

So why do people still train that way?

You got me.

It's big business. They lure folks in with their promise of quick results. Guarantees for life. Little do folks know they are being lured into hurting their dog. Actually making him a dangerous dog.

And because these folks have big advertising budgets because they are franchises, people consider them "professional".

Wow. Boggles the mind. Watch their training. In one, the dog has to be perfectly still in a "stay". Can't move a muscle, ear or eye. Seriously who needs that degree of perfection. Maybe a police dog. And if you notice that's the background a lot of those trainers come from.

Are you training a police dog? No. Are you training a family pet and companion? Yes. Who needs fear and pain training? No dog or any animal. Not even police dogs, big dogs, rowdy dogs, pitbulls, Rottweilers or even killer whales.

All can be successful using positive, force free, reward based training. Even humans.

Sunday, January 3, 2016

Good bye again.

Lost another old guy yesterday. Player was originally my daughter's dog but was an honorary member of my pack as his best friend was my dog Nitrox. Player was a funny little beagle about 16-17 yrs old. He was in his last days but took a turn for the worse yesterday. Had periods of restlessness then deep sleep. I sang to him, did some t-touch on him. Told him he was the good boy always. During one of his deep sleeps, he crossed the bridge. Today out of habit I went to fill his water bowl. I forgot for a moment he was gone. Bittersweet. Sweet dreams, Player. See you on the other side! 😢



Saturday, January 2, 2016

Today's classes

I have to cancel today's classes. I have an emergency with my old dog and may have t o get him to the vets. I'm so sorry and see you next time. Lydia