Why Puppy Kindergarten is vital for your dog

Do you have a puppy between eight weeks and three months old? Then there’s not a minute to lose: enroll your new friend in Puppy Kindergarten!
The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior recently released a position statement recommending puppy socialization classes for puppies three months of age and younger. This recommendation is an exciting acknowledgment [...]

Roundup: Your adolescent dog

A roundup of articles to help you and your pup sail through the choppy waters of adolescent months.

“Adolescent Changes” From Dog Star Daily. No, you’re not losing your mind — the cute puppy who would never leave your side is now blowing you off and stealing from the trash. Learn what to expect, and take [...]

Your agility dog: Building focus and drive (Part Two)

In Part One of this two-part series, we talked about what drive is, why it’s important, and the difference between drive and arousal. This week, we’re going to take a peek at some strategies to increase focus for dogs prone to arousal and talk about how to build drive.
Focus and agility
Now that we can tell [...]

Five reasons to avoid invisible fencing

Invisible fencing may seem like a good idea on the outset, but I believe the risks outweigh the benefits. Below are five reasons I think these fences aren’t the best option for containing your dog.

You still have to train the dog. Many people assume an invisible or underground fence is “plug ‘n’ play” — that [...]

Want a smarter dog? Try target training

An easy way to add to your dog’s repertoire of tricks or commands is to teach her how to target objects.
Targeting (or “target training”) means your dog pays attention to, and then performs an action based on, a particular stimulus (usually an object such as your hand, or a target stick). A dog putting his [...]

Dog chases squirrel: Predatory arousal and calming signals

This dog gives us an excellent look at arousal; in this case, predatory arousal. Note her dilated pupils and wide-mouthed panting. Watch during the first five seconds of the video as she licks her lips — this is a calming signal asking the person with the camera to please “back off.” Keep an eye on [...]

Enroll Online

To enroll online, first fill out the registration form below. Then, pay online with your credit card or PayPal account on the next page, or send a check to Best Pets Dog Training LLC, 11447 Valley Dr., The Plains, OH 45780.
You will receive a letter containing instructions and directions once your payment is received. Classes [...]

Classes near Athens, Ohio

Our group classes are tailored so you and your dog can gain positive, consistent behavior in the real world. We take you beyond commands to the world of animal behavior. Our positive reinforcement techniques make learning fun and effective. Not 100% satisfied? Take the class again for free!
A new class series will begin in mid-March. [...]

Doggie Zen

“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 an error.
Reinforce [...]

Before bringing your puppy home

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 already [...]