I am often asked what the best training collar is for class participation or to accomplish a specific training task. A tool is “a device or implement used to carry out a particular function”. We all know that the right tools make any job easier. In the hands of a skilled painter, a paint brush can create a priceless painting. That same brush will produce an abstract mess when in the hands of a 5 year old. There is no single tool that works for every dog in every situation, even when trying to teach the same behavior. Some tools may make learning a new behavior easy for one dog, but create …

  One of the responsibilities of owning a dog is to keep him safe at home. Another is to keep your dog from becoming a nuisance or threat to your guests, neighbors, and others in and around your home. One of the most difficult training tasks involves how to contain a dog within your yard or to specific areas of the home without a fence or barriers, such as baby gates. Dogs can be taught to respect boundaries, but teaching this behavior means an investment of time on the part of the owner. Boundary training involves establishing the limit of where a dog can go by restricting access through the…

  The approach of spring means more time outside for both people and their dogs. On any warm weekend the Lake Forest and Lake Bluff communities are teeming with dogs and owners, many looking for opportunities to socialize. Dog parks offer both a chance to interact, enjoy the outdoors, and take a break from the work week. Visiting the dog park can be a wonderful way for your dog to obtain sustained exercise. Most dog parks are fenced on the perimeter, with many offering smaller enclosed areas within them. Ponds and streams offer water enthusiasts a chance to splash and play; activities which …

When I was growing up, all I wanted Santa to bring me was a pony. Of course, Santa knew that a pony was not in the budget, so I had to wait until I was out on my own before the dream of owning a horse became a reality. For many kids, their Christmas wish is a cute, cuddly puppy under the tree on Christmas morning. If Santa makes their wish come true, here are some tips to remember: Properly raising a puppy is a full-time job. Puppies require an infinite amount of time and patience. While children often proclaim, “I’ll take care of it,” the reality is that they do not have the skills needed to…

With the many books, television shows, and websites devoted to dog training, it is easy to become confused about the opinions and various methods used to train dogs. Incorrect information regarding dog behavior can be easily accessed on the Internet, and is often unsolicited from friends, neighbors and co-workers. Here are some common dog training myths: Myth: Positive Reinforcement Training means I’ll always need to carry food with me (or teaches my dog to only work when there is food) Reality: Training a dog using positive reinforcement simply means that you will give your dog a reward each…

The concept of being dominant over our dogs has been popular in dog training for decades. The recent popularity of some dog trainers on television has also spread the belief that we must be assertive and domineering if we want to have well behaved dogs. I often hear from new clients that their dog is “trying to be an Alpha” when displaying behaviors such as pulling on leash, refusing to come when called, or chewing on something inappropriate. The definition of “dominance” as it relates to dog training is an attempt by an individual to control access or availability to preferred resources. “…

Teaching your dog to come when you call him takes practice. Every dog should learn this behavior, but few owners work hard enough to achieve it. Whether you have a puppy or an adult dog, I recommend working on this behavior daily. Read Part I Let us review the rules for teaching coming when called: Your dog must believe that coming to you is a good thing. Food rewards that are novel and of high value should be used when practicing this exercise. Coming to you can never be considered a “bad” thing. If your dog’s fun is always shut down or if you punish him when he comes to you, he will be less…

One of the most frustrating moments for dog owners is when their dog refuses to come when called. This also can be a very dangerous situation if the dog is off leash and out of control. Training a dog to have a reliable recall (come when called) takes a lot of practice. The best time to start teaching this behavior is during early puppyhood. The longer you wait to begin teaching this behavior, the harder it is to achieve the reliable recall. Let’s look at the recall from the dog’s perspective: Fido is outside involved in his favorite activity. Chasing squirrels and birds, for example, is a …

I was recently contacted by a woman whose dog barks at other dogs when on leash and in the car. A dog that barks incessantly is one of the most annoying problems to live with or live next to! Barking that is frequent, loud, or unable to be interrupted is one of the most common complaints among dog owners and their neighbors. Barking is a normal form of communication for dogs. When a dog cannot communicate his message using body language, he will resort to barking. Dogs bark for a variety of reasons: Territorial Protection Anxiety or Fear Arousal or Excitement Boredom Confusion or Indecision …

I routinely have students that choose to participate in group lessons because they want their dog to “learn to play” with other dogs. Before we can assess whether a dog has good social play skills, it is important to understand how dogs develop those skills. The most important time to socialize any dog is during the first 12 weeks of life. Every puppy learns how to properly play as an adult through interactions with its own littermates from 4 to 8 weeks of age. This is a critical socialization period for puppies, and incomplete socialization (the absence of littermates) or improper …

One of the most common questions I receive is how to train a dog to be well behaved when people arrive in the home or when in public. Situations with a lot of excitement are not always a good place to start training your dog. To begin training your dog to be well behaved in any circumstance, you need to work on four foundation behaviors with your dog. These behaviors are: Paying attention to you Sitting Waiting patiently Follow the leader (you) Most dogs are never trained to pay attention to their owners on command. Without focus from your dog, you have very little control. Can you say your …

Welcome to the inaugural column of Patch Pets. I am pleased to be given this opportunity to help the Lake Forest and Lake Bluff communities by addressing the dog training needs of our readership. I grew up on the North Shore and have worked in Lake Forest for more than 20 years. The column is geared for your interaction through posting comments on the column, or sending me an e-mail with your question or idea for the next column. You can reach me at Brenda@twopaws-up.com. I currently teach a variety of dog obedience classes in Lake Bluff and Lake Forest, as well as teach private lessons. I …