Xena the Couch Surfing Standard Poodle.

Meet Xena!

Xena is one classy lady. She is intelligent and collected, but exuberant and friendly when warranted. All in all she is one rather well behaved poodle. We met with her owner for a general training session, rather than for something specific though, as with any dogs, Xena had her quirks... Turns out Ms. Xena is quite the couch hog! If her owners settled down for a nice evening, Xena would hop right up with them and take up exactly as much space as she wanted — which ended up leaving very little room for her owners. This is a behavior we see all the time, and told Xena’s owner that we had a simple, easy solution for it.  Xena's "mom" said:

“But I like it!”

This is also a behavior we see all the time. One of the most common questions we get from clients is “Should our dog be allowed on the furniture?” What is nice about this question is that there really isn’t a right or wrong answer! The better question would be: “Do you like to have your dog on the couch with you?” If you asked a group of dog trainers whether or not their dogs are allowed on the furniture a majority of them would likely answer “Yup!” (And not a small number would even admit to letting their dogs sleep on the bed!) Some people don’t want to have the dog on the couch, but other owners enjoy having the company — especially on a cold New England night.

We tell clients that it is perfectly acceptable to curl up on the couch with their dogs — but we have a set of rules we recommend. We don’t want your dog to jump up anytime they wish. Make it a privilege; your dog is only allowed on the couch when you give permission. This will not only prevent unwanted couch hogs, but also allow you to have company when you want to, and even use the sofa as a reward for good behavior! This is especially useful when playing Rewarding With Love.

By implementing a few simple rules you can reclaim your couch while keeping your furry heater by your side!

For more information on Rewarding with Love, visit Zen Dog Training Online.

Bon Appétit, Let ME Eat!

This gorgeous gal is Layla, the friendliest yellow Lab you could ever meet.  Don't be suckered by her adorable-ness — this girl's a beggar... at the dinner table, that is.

Mealtimes can be challenging for dogs, especially those who've made a hobby of scooping up tidbits food they've found under the table.  Layla's "dad" just needed her to relax in her pen while he prepped and ate his dinner.

Our goal was to teach Layla that when her dad was eating, she not only had to behave, she had to entertain himself.  If your dog is a beggar, let him know that whining and pawing at you at the table isn’t the way to get attention!  Teach him that he's being rather rude. Show your dog that the only mealtime behavior you respect is politely waiting for you to finish eating.

With Layla, we first tried to outsmart her by using a tether.  A tether is an indoor leash that you clip to your dog’s collar with one end and attach the other to something solid and heavy that your dog can’t move, like your living room sofa.  At mealtimes, it’s best to tether your dog to something far from wherever you’re eating.  In other words, we weren't going to tether Layla to the coffee table when her owner's friends came over with a pizza to watch the game.

Another technique we discussed for Layla is using a crate to contain her or a baby gate to separate her from where her dad eats.  No matter what you works for you — crating, separating or tethering — give your dog something to do while you eat.  Bully sticks and other long-lasting chew toys are great things to give your dog.  Sweeten the deal by trying a few things out, identifying your dog’s favorite and using that exclusively at mealtimes.  This way, your dog will be excited when it’s time for you to eat!

Something else to consider is scheduling your dog’s mealtimes at the same time as yours.  If you do this, just remember 99% of dogs eat faster than most people do. Food acquisition devices (like the Busy Buddies made by Premier) are fantastic since your dog has to nose, paw and move these toys around in order for kibble and treats to fall out.  A huge extra bonus of using food acquisition devices is that playing with these toys is mentally stimulating to dogs — wouldn't it be incredible if your dog got tired just from eating dinner?

If your dog finds using a food acquisition device to be confusing, teach him how it works.  Get down on the floor together, bat the toy around and let your dog see (and lick up) all the delicious morsels that fly out of it.  He’ll get the hang of it, and soon you’ll have a dog who loves it when you eat!

For more information on dining around your dog, visit Zen Dog Training Online.

Inclement Weather Activities Series: Hide and Seek

Back again for more Inclement Weather Activities! Who knew "Hot and Humid" would turn out to be inclement??  With that said, heat can be particularly oppressive especially for certain breeds of dogs!  Here is a a fun game you and your dog can play in the convenience of your comfortably air conditioned home. 

The Find It Game 

This extremely easy game is just how it sounds... "Find It”! Not too many things are as fun as sniffing out food as far as your dog is concerned. Start by showing your dog a piece of dry food or a tiny treat. Say “Find it!” and toss the food on the ground. Some dogs may need you to start by dropping the treat right in front of them. As they catch on you can toss the treat farther and farther away.  For really active dogs you can feed them their entire meal this way should you choose to.  If your dog already has a good handle on stay you can now teach your dog a more challenging version of this game.

Time to play!  

1. Ask your dog for a Sit or a Down before you begin the game.   
2. Put your dog in a Stay while you hide the treat behind or under something ( make sure not to hide the treat in or under things that you don't want your dog to normally play with, like your favorite shoes or bag).  
3. Come back, release your dog from the stay, and say "FIND IT"!

I like to give my dogs feedback, so whenever they find a treat successfully, I let them know I approve of what they're doing by saying, "Yes!"

Remember, always make rules to any game and if your dog doesn't want to play by the rules the game should end for a bit.  When your dog and you get really good at this game you can advance to making the hidden item in “Find It”  a person or a toy, this turns the game into "Hide-and-Seek". Enlist a family member or a friend to play — one to go hide, the other to stay with the dog and encourage them to find the one who’s hiding. Make a big deal over your dog's success and I promise you and your dog never had such fun.  Keep visiting the Zen Dog Training Blog for more Inclement Weather Activities!

For more information on dog training the Zen Dog way, visit Zen Dog Training Online.

Help! My Dog Chews EVERYTHING!

It's a question we get all the time: "How do I make my dog stop chewing on X, Y, and Z??" The truth of the matter is that dogs are naturally inclined to chew. Dogs explore the world with their mouths the same way we explore and investigate with our hands. They also chew when left home alone because it's something they enjoy doing! The problem comes when your dog decides that it would be fun to chew up your nice new pair of shoes. So what can you do to solve the problem?

First of all, you can prevent our dogs from chewing non-dog items by keeping them all out of his reach. You can make sure to put our shoes away on a shelf when we get home. Or to put away all of your socks in the place he can't get to. If your dog likes paper, pick up a couple of trash cans with lids to keep him from getting at any Kleenex or napkins. If you need to, don't be afraid to use a crate for your dog while he is learning what he can, and can't, chew on — just put his favorite toys (such as a stuffed bone or Kong) in his crate when you leave. And remember: a tired dog is a well behaved dog! Before you leave in the morning, take your dog to the park, go for a jog, or even play fetch in the house — get him running and panting any way you can.

You also want to teach your dog what he's allowed to chew on by providing plenty of legal alternatives. Have a good variety of types and textures of toys for your dog to play with and chew on. He will be less likely to get bored with what he has and more likely to find a fun toy to play with. Also, notice what your dog likes to chew. If he tends to chew on socks or gloves, make sure he has a nice plush (but durable) toy that he loves. If he starts to devour the baseboards in your home, get him a nice hard stuffed bone or an antler to chew on. You can use they toys (especially the plush ones) to play games like fetch or Tug of War to get him interested in the new toys — and to tire him out!

To help him learn what he can, and cannot, chew on you will want to keep a sharp eye on him so you can interrupt him when he goes for something he shouldn't then refocus him on one of his toys. When you see him start to sniff or chew something other than his toy, simply tell him "uh-uh", stop him from chewing and offer him one of his own toys. If you take a minute to play with him with his toy, he'll turn his focus to his own toy more often. By using these three steps, you will be well on your way to teaching your dog what he can, and more importantly can't, chew on!

If you notice that your dog primarily chews while you are gone, or tends towards more destructive chewing, it might be a sign of a larger issue. If you have questions or are concerned please give us a call at (617) 233-5496!

To learn more about Solving Problem Behaviors, check out Zen Dog Training Online!

Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/francapicc/

Puppy's First Night: What to Know About Bringing a New Puppy into Your Home for the First Time

I want to address some important questions that clients often ask me about bringing a new puppy home.  Firstly, why do we recommend using BOTH a crate AND long-term confinement area? In addition, do we recommend these tools even if they live in a small apartment or condo? 

The short answer is yes. Even with a small apartment, most clients should use both a confinement area and a crate.

The reason is crates and confinement areas help with house training and home alone training. It also reduces the amount of destruction a new puppy can do when you inevitably  leave them alone first time.  (Think showers, trips to the bathroom, short errands, work, etc).

By using a confinement area (restricting your puppy's access to only one room) you don’t have to “puppy-proof” the entire house and it's easier to supervise and interrupt unwanted behaviors.  People usually baby-gate a high-traffic area that is easy to clean up, like the kitchen.

Crates are important for differnent reasons. Getting a young puppy can feel a bit overwhelming, so having a place your dog can go where you don’t have to worry is a big relief. Think of it like a crib for a child, a safe place they can learn to “self-soothe” and nap.  Odds are you will need the break as much as your puppy will!   

Housetraining

The most important reason for to use a crate is that it makes housetraining SO much easier. Dogs have a natural tendency to not "soil the den," so using a crate takes advantage of those instincts. It also helps us predict when your dog needs to go so you can

1. Minimize accidents.
2. Teach your puppy where's a good place to go.
3. Reward your puppy when he does!

Independence

Finally, teaching your young pack-animal that he will have to be left alone for 3-4 hours (at least!) while we go to work, out to dinner, movies etc. is important!  So is quickly teaching him where to go to the bathroom.  Finding ways to reduce destructive behaviors with tools like confinement areas and crates makes training so much easier!

Remember, being alone doesn't come naturally to our dogs, so it's important to be proactive and teaching them right away how to be comfortable when left alone. 

For more information on Housetraining, Home Alone Training and raising a puppy, visit Zen Dog Training Online.

Riding in Cars with Dogs: Basic Automobile Safety.

Ah, spring.  As the temperatures slowly rise, car windows slide down... and some dogs stick their noses, their faces and sometimes their entire upper bodies out into the breeze.  

Is this cute?  Of course!  But is it safe?  Of course not.

There are many ways to make road travel fun and safe for your pet, regardless of whether you're heading across town to your local dog park or across the country to another coast.  

Restraining your dog when he's in the car is essential.  A "loose" dog in the car can distract drivers; if that dog were in a car accident, he or she could easily run away and get lost, especially if in an unfamiliar neighborhood.  One of the first things we people do when we get into a car is buckle our seat belts; your dog should have the same routine.  If your dog is a backseat rider, a car harness with a seat belt attachment is a must.  If you own a smaller breed or young puppy, consider investing in a cozy travel carrier that can be belted in.  If a harness or crate isn't suitable, definitely install a pet barrier.

Check back for more in our Riding in Cars with Dogs series as the weather gets warmer.  In the meantime, contact Zen Dog Training to learn how to teach your dog to be your favorite road-trip buddy.

Happy travels!

Inclement Weather Activities Series: Tug of War.

Although the temperature these days has been pretty agreeable, bad weather will happen now and then. Be it rain, snow or a heat wave, these occurrences can make exercising your dog a challenge. Without adequate exercise, your dog may act out due to boredom and frustration but fear not!! With the right tools, a little ingenuity and strict rules you and your dog can have a blast playing all kinds of games.

Tug of War is just one of the many games that provide fun ways of training your dog and reinforcing the human-canine bond. Playing Tug of War will get your dog good and excited. Remember that it’s normal for your dogs to growl mildly when excited. Make sure you enforce all the rules to prevent the fun and excitement from crossing the line.

Before you begin playing Tug, choose a release command such as “Drop."  Also, get a toy that is only for playing Tug of War. This makes the toy extra special to your dog! Consider the toy's length, as it should be long enough to keep your hand from ending up in your dog’s mouth.  Make sure you play in a dog-proofed area in your home.  This is a roomy space without breakables or anything that may cause injury if bumped into.

Time to play!

1. Ask your dog for a Sit or a Down before you begin the game. Then start the game by saying “Tug” and continue to encourage your dog by saying that word a few times more.
2. Periodically tell your dog to stop the game by saying your release command and then ask for a Sit or a Down again. When your dog calms down for a few seconds resume the game by saying “TUG”.
3. ABSOLUTELY no contact with your dog’s teeth is allowed. Should your dog become overly excited and accidentally put his teeth on you, the game should end immediately. Let your dog know this hurts by saying “Ouch!” and put the toy away for a little bit. Avoid being angry and instead act disappointed. This lets your dog know that you want him to be more careful. If the same mistake continues to happen, then the game should end for the day. 

Letting your dog "win" is fine!  This builds confidence and is a nice way to say "Thank You!" to your dog for minding his manners.  The exception to this rule is if your dog misbehaves.  If he doesn't want to play by the rules, then you should be the one who ends up with the toy.

So next time you become stranded indoors give Tug of War a try. Keep visiting the Zen Dog Training Blog for more Inclement Weather Activities!