Training is an essential part of being a responsible pet parent. However, training your dog is not just about teaching useful behaviors; it’s also about building a connection and having fun together! In this video, KPA CTP Donna Boidi and her dog demonstrate how training time can also be playtime!
If you have a dog, you have probably heard of clicker training. But what exactly is it? Is clicker training right for you and your dog?
In preparation for the holidays, kitchens are laden with tempting treats and mouthwatering smells. For dogs that are tall or athletic enough to reach a counter, the opportunity to help themselves can be too good to pass up!
As the weather gets colder, your dog may need protective clothing, like a sweater or coat. Many small dogs have difficulty retaining body heat, and senior dogs are prone to underlying medical conditions that may make them more sensitive to the cold, including arthritis. Many rescue dogs come from warmer climates and need help acclimating to colder weather. However, while dogs may benefit from wearing a coat, they may not enjoy wearing one!
Does the sound of the doorbell send your dog into a frenzy? It is natural for dogs to become overly excited when guests arrive. However, you can control the chaos by teaching your dog to be calm when the doorbell rings. The first step in teaching polite door greetings is to teach a few alternate behaviors that you want your dog to do when he hears the arrival sound. These should be simple behaviors that your dog knows well such as place, come, touch, get a toy, and go outside.
When you ask your dog for a sit or down, does he pop up immediately? For many dogs, behaviors that require them to hold a position for a longer length of time can be challenging. So how do you add duration?
Have you ever been embarrassed by your dog jumping up to greet a stranger? Jumping is one of the most common challenges that pet parents face—it is also one of the most difficult behaviors to break. Dogs repeat behaviors that earn rewards, and jumping is often rewarded with attention from the person they are so eager to greet. To eliminate jumping from your dog’s repertoire, teach alternative and more appropriate ways to greet people, with four paws on the floor!
Few things are more joyful than unclipping your dog’s leash to begin an outdoor adventure. Off-leash walks and hikes let you spend quality time together in nature and provide exercise, stimulation, and enrichment for your dog. But how do you keep your dog’s attention in the spring and summer when there are so many exciting new scents emerging? One way to help your dog pay attention to you is to teach the habit of “checking in.”
Doorways are exciting places for dogs—who knows what is waiting on the other side! As a result, many dogs get overly excited and rush the door, creating a danger for themselves as well as for whomever is entering. Door rushing can be a challenge to manage, especially if you have multiple dogs and your door is constantly revolving. Fortunately, there are simple ways to prevent door-rushing behavior.
Walking with your dog can be a very rewarding experience for both you and your dog. It is also a great way to strengthen your bond. How do you teach your dog to walk with you? Like teaching any new behavior, the path to happy dog walks is paved with many successive approximations (tiny steps)!
