Spring is in full swing here in Central Illinois, and with it comes thunderstorms. Some of our best friends do fine during tumultuous weather, while others are extremely terrified by the first crack of thunder, flash of lightening, and everything else associated with spring storms. There are no simple fixes for this phobia, but there are some things you can do to help your dog. Below you'll find links to two excellent articles on the subject written by Patricia McConnell and Jolanta ... continue reading...
Traveling with your dog – Part 3
This is part 3 of a 3 part series, written collaboratively by Bob and Susan Ryder. Part 1 Part 2 Taking a road trip with your dog? Here are some helpful tips for you while on the road: *Frequent stops: We try to take a break at least every couple hours at a rest stop. Normally Kayla doesn't need to go potty that often at home, but being in the car for longer stretches can be boring for her. So we stop more frequently than when we're without her to let her sniff and stretch her ... continue reading...
Traveling with your dog – Part 2
This is part 2 of a 3 part series, written collaboratively by Bob and Susan Ryder. Part 1 Taking a road trip with your dog? Here is some helpful advice about what to make sure you have with you in the car. What to bring: Our dog Kayla has her own "suitcase" - and whenever she sees us take it out of the closet, she knows a trip is coming up, which makes her very excited. Here is what we keep in her bag: 1. A couple of towels (she's a lab, likes to swim wherever she sees water, ... continue reading...
Traveling with your dog – Part 1
This is part 1 of a 3 part series, written collaboratively by Bob and Susan Ryder. Spring is in the air, which means summer is not far off and, if we are lucky, it's summer vacation for many of us. Our family enjoys camping, which always include our yellow lab, Kayla. With Illinois as home base, we've taken her on trips as far away as California, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and South Carolina. Whether you're a camper or not , you may decide to take your dog with you on road ... continue reading...
Teach It, Don’t Preach It! (Why merely intensifying a cue won’t work.)
Your dog looks at you with a relaxed expression and wags her tail. You say “Sophie, sit.” Sophie remains on all 4s, looking and wagging. “Sit” you say again. Sophie cocks her head and wags faster. Louder and firmly, you repeat “Sit!” (You want her to know you mean it.) Sophie sniffs the carpet for cookie crumbs the vacuum might have missed - still on all 4s. “Sit. SIT, SOPHIE - SIT!” Ears back and tail low, Sophie wanders off. Is she being stubborn? No. Obtuse? No. Dominant? NO! ... continue reading...
I’ll Split It With you
As the old proverb says, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. The obvious point is that large and daunting tasks need to be approached in small, doable increments. This is true for work, raising a family, personal growth, and certainly training our dogs. One of the most helpful techniques I’ve learned in training advises, “Split, don’t lump!” Here’s what it means. Let’s say I want to train Kayla to crawl along the ground like a soldier, which I do. (It’s a fun trick, ... continue reading...
Training Is Forever
A client recently asked how long it would take to train her dog. Because I knew her well and was sure there would be no chance of taking it the wrong way, I answered “Forever.” She understood my meaning right away. Other clients will sometimes ask the same question in a slightly less direct way. “How much time do I need to spend working on ____ (insert the behavior here)? When will he know to quit getting into the ____?” The question boils down to “When will I be done training my dog.” ... continue reading...
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