From the category archives:

Puppy Training

‘What do you think of Cesar Millan?’

November 12, 2008

I get asked that question a lot. The short explanation is that it’s a television show — entertaining to some, I’m sure, but not particularly useful to pet owners watching the show, and potentially dangerous to dogs and people alike. The longer explanation is here, or here. For you geeky behavior types, Eric Goebelbecker over [...]

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Teach your dog to lie down

July 26, 2008

Teaching your dog to lie down is a relatively simple task. Start with some tasty treats your dog loves, and in a location your dog is already comfortable. Smaller dogs can first learn this task on a sofa or soft chair, if need be. Grab a big handful of treats. Ask your dog to sit [...]

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How old should my puppy be before I start training?

April 12, 2008

“How old does my puppy have to be before I can begin training?” This is a question I am asked often. The puppy in this video is 10 weeks old; but you don’t even have to wait that long! “Training” starts the day you bring your new dog or puppy home to live with you [...]

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Finding the best name for your puppy

March 13, 2008

I had a terrible time naming my latest German Shepherd puppy. She came to me somewhat unexpectedly; all my previous puppies were named well in advance, or at least, I had several good ideas. But this time, only two weeks had elapsed between the time I talked to my breeder about her and the time [...]

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Doggie Zen

February 9, 2008

“Doggie Zen” is an exercise I learned from clicker trainer Shirley Chong. This exercise is particularly effective in teaching your dog to focus on you amidst distraction. Before you begin, remember… A click is a promise that a treat is coming. Always offer your dog a reward after you click, even if you have made [...]

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Teach your dog his name

February 1, 2008

Let’s teach our dogs the most important word they’ll ever hear: their names. The good news is, this simple, life-saving word can be taught in literally a matter of minutes. All you’ll need to do is grab your dog, a leash (if you need it to keep him nearby), and 50 or so really, really [...]

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Before bringing your puppy home

January 31, 2008

Those little balls of fluff are adorable, but life can become miserable without accomplishing at least these five tasks first: Buy a crate. A crate is an indispensable tool for house training, as well as keeping your belongings and your puppy safe while you are gone. Crate-training takes a few days if your breeder hasn’t [...]

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Is your dog ready for agility training?

January 24, 2008

Agility training is a wonderful, energy-burning and mind-challenging sport for dogs and their handlers. Even dogs not registered with the AKC can participate in agility competition, thanks to a plethora of agility registries such as the United States Dog Agility Association and the North American Dog Agility Council. Finding a good agility class or trainer [...]

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