Teaching Hide and Seek
Teaching Hide and Seek On Good Behavior LLC Hide and Seek is one of my favorite rainy day dog games. With very little effort on my part, I can keep both dogs busy running around the house for five or ten minutes at a stretch searching for a hidden toy. Hide and seek can be […]
Puppy Priorities
Puppy Priorities On Good Behavior LLC I have a new puppy! Ally was born April 20th, 2009 and joined the household on June 17th. She is a Vizsla. My clients have been very curious about what I’m doing with Ally, so here are my priorities for eight to sixteen weeks: Socialization: Ally’s breeder did an […]
Turning Tug Into Fetch
Turning Tug Into Fetch On Good Behavior LLC Almost all puppies will play tug with very little encouragement, but getting them to retrieve can be a bit more of a challenge. While I enjoy tug and I don’t believe it causes behavior problems, it isn’t nearly as good exercise as fetch and with my big […]
Why Dog Trainers Hate Retractable Leashes
Why Dog Trainers Hate Retractable Leashes On Good Behavior LLC Retractable leashes (often called by their brand name, Flexi) are very popular with the general public, but most trainers are not fans and ban them from classes. Why? We’ve learned the hard way of all the problems these leashes can cause. Injuries: Cuts, rope burns, […]
Sit For Your Supper
Sit For Your Supper On Good Behavior LLC Mealtimes are an exciting time for most dogs, but some dogs overdo the celebration making feeding time an unpleasant chore. Does your dog bark, spin, nip at you, knock the bowl out of your hand or otherwise make dinnertime unpleasant? Here’s how to calm things down. First, […]
Lost and Found Dogs
Lost and Found Dogs On Good Behavior LLC I recently had the good fortune to join a friend in her hunt for her lost dog at just the right moment. On our first pass through the neighborhood, Bonnie and I were yelling Mariah! over and over when suddenly there was rustling in the bushes and […]
Teaching Go To Bed
Teaching Go To Bed On Good Behavior LLC Sending your dog to his bed is a convenient way to prevent him from pestering guests, running off with the game pieces when your kids are playing on the living room floor, begging or stealing food while you are cooking, etc. Lying on his bed allows your […]
Electric Fences
Electric Fences On Good Behavior LLC I’m often asked by new puppy owners what I think of “invisible” fences. The short answer is: I’m not a fan. However, there are clearly pros and cons to installing an electronic containment system (ECS). Note that Invisible Fence® is a brand of ECS. Pros: First and foremost, fences […]
Default or Automatic Behaviors: When the environment provides the cue
Default or Automatic Behaviors: When the environment provides the cue On Good Behavior LLC As a dog trainer, I spend a lot of time teaching dogs commands, but there are also situations where I want my dogs to just know what they are supposed to do without a command. For example, I want them to automatically […]
Are You Ready For A Second Dog?
Are You Ready For A Second Dog? On Good Behavior LLC I often see clients who have done everything right with puppy number one–puppy classes, training, socialization, regular exercise etc. However, when they add a second dog, they make the assumption that the puppy will be socialized by their existing dog and learn good manners […]