Sounds like a great idea, right?

No, not really. What I'm referring to is the popular training promo "Board and Train". You drop off your dog at a trainers, pay them $1000-$1500, pick up your dog in 2 weeks, presto-He's all trained! Whoa, wait a minute. All those commands in 2 weeks? And he's going to do them all for you even though you didn't teach him and you didn't build up a relationship with your dog? Right. Might work if it was a computer that needed reprogramming. Or a car that needed repair. I just heard from a lady the other day, sent her dog off to board and train, came back, had a couple sessions with the trainer to "transfer" the leadership to her. Did not work. (Her words). Money wasted and in search of another trainer because her dog still has the problem.

My other issue with "Board and Train" is that you don't know what they are doing or using on your dog when you're not there. Sure, there are some positive trainers that do "Board and Train" but there are more that use prong, shock and choke collars and punitive training. Some just downright break your dog's spirit.  That's how they can do that in two weeks.

My personal opinion is that a beautiful and wonderful relationship is built with your dog through training. You get to know your dog and he you. It builds and grows and the two of you have an unbreakable bond built on trust, respect and love. You can't buy that. It takes work, commitment, dedication, consistency and lots of love and patience. And time. A lot longer than two weeks. It takes a lifetime.

So what about Continuing Education?

So your puppy graduated from Puppy Classes. Truly a great accomplishment because you are a part of an elite group. The 3%. Only 3% of folks who own dogs ever take them to any formal classes. Is it any wonder that about 97% of the dogs in shelters never had any kind of training? Hmmmm. I see a correlation  here. A lot of the cases I get called on involve dogs that never had any training. Or just had puppy classes but it was years ago and they never kept it up. Oops, is that you? I consider puppy classes a great beginning, like kindergarten and elementary school. but don't stop there. You don't want your dog to be a Jethro Clampett, do you? (now I date myself as he was a character from The Beverly Hillbillies show, proud that he graduated grade school) What I teach in Continuing Education builds on what you and your dog learned in puppy classes and takes it to a whole other level. Proofs it and adds distance, duration and distraction to cues like Stay, Come, Leave it. Adds new cues like Front, Finish, Go Around, Heel, Behind, Back up and more. Explores new  experiences like scent work, Rally and the chance to earn the prestigious AKC Canine Good Citizen Award (builds on that great award you earned in puppy class AKC STAR Puppy Award) so what are you waiting for? New dogs and owners can jump in every week. Make it your summer project to get your dog better trained this summer. You will not regret it. "My dog had too much training!" Said no dog owner ever.

The Big Bark Theory

Setting up a booth today at The Big Bark Theory(Wags and Whiskers Grooming Salon Mason Oh) . I usually don't do booths at events because they usually aren't worth the time, effort and money you put into it as far as attracting new clients. But today I'm doing this to promote Therapy Pets Unlimited. I love therapy dogs and the work the teams do so I agreed to set one up here. I'll post pics too. Hope the rain holds out as I have an outside booth with no tent. I'm sure it'll be fun and I'll get to meet lots of folks and their dogs. And I have lots of people and dog treats to give away. Hope to see you there.

Oh, no! A broken tooth!

Finally happened. A bad day at work. Dog jumped up, hit my mouth and broke my front tooth. It's a crown so it cracked all the way up. I won't gross you out with a pic. I couldn't even look at myself in the mirror. I would cry. Fortunately (or unfortunately) it was not a dog in my class. It was a dog that used to be in my class but the owner decided positive training was not working for her dog (***sigh***) and she went to a trainer from the dark side. Paid $1500 to him. A YEAR AGO. Dog still has no manners. Sheesh.... So in my classes we do learn: sitting politely for petting, greeting other people with dogs, not jumping on people among other things. It's important. Very important. SO YOUR DOG DOES NOT KNOCK PEOPLE'S TEETH OUT! Dentist and his office were super!!!! (Yay-Dr Slonnaker!!)  He is trying a temporary fix but warned me it may not hold as it is cracked all the way up. So needless to say when I see that lady and her dog approaching me, I will run, not walk the other way.    

Tulip always makes me smile!

Tulip is such a sweet dog. She's always happy and loves her job of guarding the premises. She is nothing like Mary and Smokey but a pyr none the less. She's timid of strange people and dogs. And also of strange places. We will work on this but she is who she is. I did not have her as a puppy like Mary and Smokey. We socialized them and walked them and took them to classes. Tulip came from a strange situation, a  shakey situation. Was shoved in my truck with her just born pups with no vet records, food or anything. She's come a long way and I believe she trusts me. We still work on trimming nails. She does come when called now if she can see a reason for it. Lol. Most things are on Tulip's time. So her training classes will be called Tulip's Training Time.

Fun Puppy Park Classes

A Day In The Life

Yesterday was a busy day for your dog trainer. First a private in home at 9am. Way early for me. I'm barely up at 9:30, let alone shower and across town by 9am. Whew. But a delightful, smart dog and awesome owners doing a great job so a good way to start the day. Then a Flash Class at the park at 12:30. What's a Flash Class you might ask? It's a one topic quick class when I have a block of time to fill. 75 Mins $15. I announce them on social media a couple days in advance. Then on to the Family Pet Center for 3 Puppy Classes which included 2 graduations. Last my Help for Reactive Dogs Class at 6pm at the park. At least there weren't too many reactive dogs and they weren't too reactive. Then I went home and collapsed. Literally. But I truly love what I do, I don't have too many days like that, and the weather was great so there you go.