Canine Behavior Training
Seize the Leash
Attend a class designed for dogs that are difficult in normal group classes, that bark, lunge, become excited, reactive or aggressive towards other dogs or people or just shuts down. This class is des...
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Seize the Leash and tighten the bonds you have with your faithful canine companion. With some effort and patience, you can address your dog's behavior problems with basic dog behavior training, and keep your dog where she belongs-with you. Fill out our Training Services form and get started today!! Tiny Tyrants Behavior Class Puppy Basics Advanced Behavior Training Sign up for our newsletter. You’ll receive training tips and many more special features which are only offered through our newsletter! The Best Walking Partner Ask The Trainer at Tucson Cold Wet Noses Rescue
How To Keep Your Dog Mentally Stimulated
If your dog lived in the wild he would spend the majority of his time in survival activities. He would be hunting for his dinner. He would have to find prey, run it down, hang onto and kill it, and then rip it apart to eat it! Not a pretty picture but true. (Remember, they are animals.) He might even have to protect it from other predators. That’s a lot of work! Dogs are programmed to work-they need and want a job. Busy dogs are happy dogs. Tired dogs are good dogs. There are many things you can do to keep your dog busy. Your imagination is the limit - as long as it is safe. If you come up with a great idea, please share it with me so we can list it for other dog owners. Remember: Bored dogs cause problems. If you don't keep your dog's mind stimulated, chances are that he'll find activities to stimulate his mind, himself. And, chances are, you won't like those activities. Here's a quick list of how to keep your dog mentally stimulated:
There are three things that dogs need to become healthy, happy, and balanced: Exercise, Disipline, and Affection. In that order! And no other way! Walking your dog is the most fundamental, most basic, most insinctual, most primal way to bond with your dog, and establish leadership. I'll go more in to mastering the walk in another topic. Feeding Ideas No Free Lunch rule; never give your dog food without making him work for it. It can be as simple as a “sit” or as complicated as running an agility course. This includes treats, handouts while you’re fixing your own meal, or putting his bowl down in front of him. This means by everyone in the family. There’s always a softie who thinks it is mean, but in reality, it’s meaner, to not make your dog work than to make him work. Try some feeding variations like a feeding cube or ball. This is a square or round shaped ball which you fill with dry food and the dog has to roll it around on the floor to get the food out. Don’t worry, when he finds out there is food in it, he won’t let it go under the furniture. Or forget the ball and just scatter his food all over the floor. You will be surprised how even picky eaters will soon be loving meal time. Try a Kong. Kong’s are chew toys that can be stuffed! You can stuff them with almost anything. Try stuffing it and then hide it. Here are some stuffing ideas:
Exercise Ideas Have you heard the saying: If your dog is overweight, you aren’t getting enough exercise! All dogs need exercise. A walk is great for your dog’s mental stimulation and allows him to encounter other dogs and people. It is also a great leadership exercise; we call it “follow the leader”. However, it is not a substitute for strenuous exercise. Can’t walk very far; get him a back pack and let him carry a little weight. If you exercise by jogging or bike riding, take your dog with you. (Check with your vet, make sure his health will allow this type of exercise.) Here are some games you can try:
Dog Parks If your dog has a good recall take him to an off-leash dog park and let him run and play. If he doesn’t have a good recall, teach him one. Or, you can set up play dates with your friend’s dogs. Dogs playing with dogs is great exercise, increases their social skills and problem solving abilities. Sports There are a lot of dog sports out there which are fun for you and your dog. You can do it for fun or for competition. Figure out what is involved in participating, what you and your dog enjoy and go from there. Obedience Obedience training is great mental exercise for your dog. Make him practice at home. Join a class or competition. Toys There is no shortage of different types of toys out there. Everything from plain old balls to electronic learning toys. Make sure your dog has plenty of fun toys and chew things. They need to chew to keep their jaw muscles and teeth in good shape. This applies to adult dogs as well as teething puppies. Experiment to see what your dog likes and then make sure you have plenty around. Just don’t give them all to him at once. Rotate a few different toys and/or chews each day. You can even let him pick which ones he wants every day. This is also a good way to keep him from chewing things he shouldn’t. If you don’t give him stuffed animals because he tears them apartl, remember that predatory thing you don’t want to think about. When he holds the toy down and picks it open he is ripping open its stomach and gutting it. He will love it if you let him do this but make sure it is a supervised ritual. Toy guts are not as digestible as the real thing and we don’t want him to really eat it. Jobs Your dog does not have to be a service dog to have a job. Teach him to fetch your slipper, fetch the newspaper, or bring you a tissue when you sneeze. Give him chores, just like you would your children. Make him pick up his toys and put them back in the basket before bed time. He will probably enjoy it much more than the children do. At the Seize The Leash we train dogs and know that dogs can do amazing things. If a dog can physically do it, you can train him to do it on cue. Use your imagination, think out of the box! Give him a job, teach him tricks. Do it to impress your friends and neighbors. Do it because it is fun. Do it because you love him and he needs it. He will love you all the more in return. And remember, if you need help, give us a call.
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Chances are your dog leads an under-stimulated life.
1. EXERCISE! Lots of exercise! First, let me stress the fact that playing "fetch" may seem like a good exercise for your dog, but games should NEVER be substituted for a long, vigorous walk! Also, the most common circumstance that I have come across among dog owners is that of having a big back yard and substiuting that for exercise. A large backyard is NOT exercise... it's just a bigger kennel. Your house is a kennel; your yard is a kennel. Your dog can spend the entire day chasing a squirrel around the yard, but that is not constructive and stimulative excersise. I have spoken with so many dog owners that tell me they give their dog food and water, affection and a big back yard to play in, and still don't understand why there dog is displaying so many unwanted behaviors.