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How to Train a Dog to Be Balanced

 To HAVE what others don’t, you’ve got to DO what others won’t.
how to train a dog

These words are as true for dog training as they are for anything else. How to train a dog
Many people say they want a well trained dog but not as many are willing to do what it takes to achieve that.
It’s easy to share love and affection. It’s not as easy to share structure and discipline.
But these things in combination are the things that yield a well-balanced dog.
Too much affection and freedom create anxiety and nervousness. Which often leads to a reactive even aggressive dog.
Implementing a level of structure, leadership and boundaries will create a relaxed, well adjusted dog. Teaching your dog how to remain calm in any and all situations goes a long way in creating a well balanced dog. Socializing your dog to different situations, environments, people, places, things while teaching your dog to just exist, not get excited by the newness.
Exercise, training, down time in their crate are all a part of the process. And it IS a process.
You must also redefine what love is.
True love is giving your dog what they NEED not just what feels good to you the human.
Love your dog by training your dog.
There are no shortcuts. You must put in the time and effort. But what you and your dog will gain in the process is a bond like no other as well as the ability to take your dog anywhere. Which enriches both your life and theirs!
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Are You Happy with GEO or Do You Want More? Good Enough Obedience

GEO or Good Enough Obedience is what many owners experience with their dogs. Does this sound familiar? You put your dog in a down and they stay there for a few minutes maybe longer. ThenGood enough obedience they begin to scratch, stretch, sniff, reach for a toy etc. You don’t do anything because technically they are still in the down. Then they begin to creep ever so slightly but still you are okay with that because they haven’t gotten up. Now we are in the GEO zone. If you’re happy with that, okay. But remember this, the small stuff matters! What you don’t disagree with, you are agreeing with. And if you are agreeing with less than true obedience, you’ll get more of the same. [Read more…]

Why Basic Obedience Foundation Work Works!

Why Foundation Work works!

Uncertainty and fear are relieved by authority. Training is authority. It’s a release valve. -Ryan Holiday Basic obedience foundation work.

When I say foundation work I’m talking about basic obedience such as:

Sit with implied stay Basic obedience foundation work

Down with implied stay

Place with implied stay (teaches calm on command)

(The above three commands are taught with an implied stay because, what good is sit, down or place if your dog doesn’t stay in them???)basic obedience foundation work

Heel (tight structured walk)

Recall (Come/Here Command)

Name Game (looking when you call their name)

Thresholds-Respectfully moving through doorways (including in/out of the crate) [Read more…]

Want a Well Trained Dog? Talk Less, Do More

The Secret to a Well Trained Dog. Talk Less, Do More

We all want a well trained dog, and we all talk to our dogs, don’t we? I know I do! However, when Well Trained Doggiving my dog a command, I typically only use one word (the command). I may also call her name first to get her attention if she is not looking at me, but I pause in between her name and the command until she is looking at me. Want that well trained dog?

When just beginning the training process with clients I notice that [Read more…]