Are you the type of person who loves dogs? Do you like interacting with dogs as much as possible? If so, have you ever dreamt of becoming a dog trainer and being able to help many other people with their dog dilemmas?

With the horrific dog attacks we read about so often in the press, the number of dog bites increasing every year and so many owners feeling frustrated and at their wits end with their dogs’ unwanted behaviour, there is definitely a need for more professional dog trainers.

Learning how to communicate to a dog in their language and being able to understand what their canine needs and expectations are really is the best gift anyone can give to their dog. It is also a recipe for a happy and well balanced dog and owner too.

Humans and canines speak 2 different languages and dogs have different needs and expectations than our own. The number of attacks would dramatically decrease if more dog owners understood how their dogs think and knew how to correctly put the information that dogs need in place using kind and gentle methods.

So, let’s talk about how to become a dog trainer…

If you feel you were MEANT to work with dogs, that it’s your ‘calling’ and would like to make a difference in the world then here’s a 9 step checklist of what to look for when choosing a great dog trainer course:

1)    The course MUST teach methods that are kind and humane which means NO shouting or hitting the dog. 

2)    The company’s ethics and methods resonate with you. 

3)    Dogs and humans speak 2 different languages – it’s SO much easier for us to learn THEIR language rather than they learn OURS. Courses that focus on empowering and educating the dog owner as well as training the dog are key factors to look for. 

4)    The best way to learn is to roll up your sleeves and get involved yourself. It’s really important to find a course that offers ‘hands-on’ situations and training so you learn from the inside out. The course needs to include both ‘real-life’ experiences as well as theory.

 5)    Each course has a small number of participants so that each member is given individual attention, support and direction. 

6)    The course has a ‘building block’ approach – you are shown step-by-step what to do BEFORE you get to ‘practice’ in real life situations in a controlled and supported environment. 

7)    The course offers both dog training tuition AND in depth information, support and guidance on how to set up and run a successful business. 

8)    There are no “official” governing bodies in the UK that regulate dog trainers so it’s vital that whoever you train with are well established, have glowing reviews and are credible. Ensure that upon completion of the course you receive certification showing you have completed your training. 

9)    There is on-going support offered after the course. 

It really is the best feeling getting up in the morning and actually looking forward to going to work. It’s a profession that offers great job satisfaction and is very rewarding. It’s pleasing to see how dogs (and owners!) become calm and balanced before your eyes as a direct result of what you taught them.

Many people spend more time at work than anywhere else which is why it is important that we are doing something we choose to do whilst paying the bills at the same time. With growth expected in the pet industry you will be well paid and get to work with what you love the most, dogs.   

Getting a puppy or dog, in almost all instances, means that you’ll need to dedicate time to do the required training in order to have a well behaved and balanced dog.

Training to either remove unwanted behaviours, such as dog barking, or teach new behaviours is essential and a well trained dog will feel much more secure in your home when they know their boundaries. Even in the wild, a dog will have some sort of enforced boundaries of behaviour by the pack structure and hierarchy that exists. At the end of the day, your dog is part of your ‘pack’.

A very important point to note about dog training is that any form of training should be approached from the perspective of ‘positive reinforcement’. This simply means that you should reward your dog with praise, a treat or in some situations both, for any positive behaviour that they demonstrate. Success will come quickly to anybody who praises a dog for good behaviour. The same cannot be said for somebody who punishes a dog for NOT showing good behaviour.

For example – If you ask your dog to sit and they do, you give them a treat. In the dogs mind sitting when told equals a treat. 

Simple. 

Now what if you tell the dog to sit and they don’t, and then you punish them? In the dogs mind you have just dished out a random punishment for nothing. This will only serve to confuse your dog and lead them to mistrust you.

One of the most common mistakes that dog owners make is to inadvertently train their dog……. into bad habits. A typical example is barking. Let’s take a closer look at this.

Barking – Most dogs’ bark, that’s a fact. It’s WHEN a dog barks that determines whether it’s normal behaviour or a bad habit. If your dog only barks when somebody comes to the door and quickly stops then this is normal territorial behaviour. Your dog is warning you, as a member of their pack, that there’s potential danger at the door.

If your dog spends the best part of their waking life barking at just about anything including you, then they now have formed a bad habit or an unwanted behaviour – but one that with time and dedication can be cured.

The first mistake that people make is to shout “Quiet” or “Shut up” at their barking dog. The main reason why this will not work is simple. Your dog barks, then you ‘bark’. From your perspective you are shouting at your dog to shut up. From your dogs’ perspective, you are barking along, getting stressed out and re-enforcing there is something to worry about. You are also rewarding your dog, by giving them attention at this time, for behaviour you want to stop!

A more effective method is to wait for a pause in your dogs barking then give them praise and possibly a treat too. As soon as the barking starts again, try saying ‘good job’ in a calm voice to demonstrate you don’t have a problem with what they are barking at.

If that method doesn’t work then take no notice of your dog, walk off – DO NOT pay your dog any attention. Then, when the barking stops its treat time again (or praise), it won’t be long before your dog puts two and two together.

There are lots of simple and very effective ways that you can train your dog. There’s no need to put up with bad habits or unwanted behaviour in your dog as they can with time and dedication be easily remedied. Oh, and don’t believe the phrase “You can’t teach on old dog new tricks”, you can – it’s never too late 🙂

Click here to get your FREE E-Book that reveals… How To Easily STOP Your Dog From Pulling On The Lead AND How To PREVENT A Dog Attack.

Unwanted dog behaviour is not only stressful for the owner (and dog) but is embarrassing and frustrating too. So many dog owners are simply not enjoying their relationship with man’s best friend due to their dog’s behaviour.

The answer is to see the world through the eyes of a dog and understand what THEIR needs and expectations are.

Dogs do not misbehave because they’re spiteful, or are out to annoy or anger you. They often don’t understand the world they find themselves to be in and are doing the best that they know how in the circumstances.

If your dog demonstrates unwanted behaviour here are some things to consider… 

1. Health Issues – It’s thought that a percentage of unwanted behaviour problems that we see today are related to the dog’s health in some way or another. It could be that your dog is misbehaving because they are sick or in pain. It’s always good to take them to the vet for a thorough check-up if they misbehave suddenly when they are normally a good dog. 

2. Imbalanced Diet – Feeding your dog the wrong food, one that is too high in protein, fat or carbohydrates has been found to cause hyperactivity and health issues. Sugars, starches and many other factors in your dog’s diet can also cause behavioural problems in your dog. Always read the label of the food before you feed them, seek advice if necessary. Remember that dogs need different types of food in different stages of their life. 

3. Exercise – Lack of exercise can cause so many behavioural problems. A dog that doesn’t get enough exercise is not mentally stimulated or able to expel pent up energy which can often result in hyperactivity and destructive behaviours. Depending on the breed, age and energy level of the individual dog will determine how much exercise is required. Please do consider this factor before getting a puppy or dog. 

4. Lack of Leadership and direction – This is such an important area. When dogs have a calm and confident leader they have no responsibilities, no reason to protect or to become stressed. They feel safe and taken care of and know that their job is to alert you if there’s potential danger but other than that their job is to have fun and relax. Pulling on the lead, incessant barking, dog aggression and separation anxiety are just some of the unwanted behaviours that can manifest when a dog assumes the top dog position. It’s very important that you convince your dog that you are in charge so they look at you for guidance and direction. When this is combined with positive reinforcement techniques it’s extremely effective.

Almost all dog behaviour problems can be changed where stressed out pooches turn into happy and relaxed dogs. The answer is to see the world from a dog’s prospective and hopefully the four points mentioned above will help.  

Click here to get your FREE E-Book that reveals… How To Easily STOP Your Dog From Pulling On The Lead AND How To PREVENT A Dog Attack.

With Bonfire night fast approaching it is a nightmare time of year for so many dog owners. Of course the main problem is that the 5th of November is just the start of the firework season and a lot of displays start before the 5th and continue long into the New Year. 

So what should people do? How should dog owners behave in order to turn a stressed dog into a calm and happy dog? What’s the answer to the dogs and fireworks dilemma? In most cases it’s the complete opposite of what a lot of people are currently doing! 

Here are some suggestions of what to do in advance:

Natural remedies 

Bach Flowers Rescue Remedy (can be purchased on-line especially for animals – type in rescue remedy for dogs (or any other animal) in google).

These are flower and tree essences which have calming and reassuring effects for humans, children, dogs and other animals. 

Skullcap and Valerian tablets or valerian liquid which is a herbal medicine that has calming and reassuring properties and can be very beneficial for dogs with firework anxiety and travel sickness. This can be purchased mail order from Dorwest Herbs: 

http://www.dorwest.com/ 

Some homeopathic remedies can also be helpful such as: 

Aconite – this works with dogs that have been frightened badly, particularly by thunder. 

Borax – this works for dogs that are frightened by sudden noises. 

Gelesium – this is for fear and anxiety from loud sounds and for trembling and shaking. 

These remedies can be prescribed by a homeopathic vet. 

D.A.P – Dog Appeasing Pheromone. 

This can be purchased from a vet (or internet) either as a plug in, collar or spray. The appeasing pheromone mimics the pheromone produced by lactating mothers which gives comfort to her puppies and helps reassure and calm anxious dogs in stressful situations. This can also be affective for dogs who suffer from nervousness and separation anxiety. 

Firework, Thunder or Gunshot CD 

Sounds scary! Has a range of different CD’s that can be helpful when de-sensitising your dog to fireworks, thunder, gunshot noises, traffic and even baby noises in preparation for bringing a new baby home. Their website is: 

http://www.soundtherapy4pets.com/ 

The CD’s come with full instructions and does require quite some time in order to adjust your dog to the sounds. 

Suggestions of what to do during firework night

The key point to remember is when you give attention, affection, look or talk to your dog you are nurturing their current state of mind. This means if your dog is stressed, panting, pacing, barking or eyes glaring by stroking and talking to them at this time will increase the behaviour. 

The best thing you can do for your dog is to act as if nothing is happening and take no notice of any stressed behaviour. For dogs that pant, pace and run towards windows and doors, place them on the lead and keep them gently but firmly by your side. By keeping them still will cause them to calm down quicker as the pacing creates more stressed behaviour. Stay calm, do not feel sorry for your dog as this will communicate that he has something to worry about and keep strong positive thoughts, perhaps sitting on the floor with them while you watch the TV or read. It may take a little while but you will notice that your dog will gradually calm as your positive thoughts and calming presence will be the reassurance they need. When you pay no attention to their shaking and upset you will allow them to move on much quicker and come back to balance. 

If your dog likes to build a nest or hide somewhere create a safe place for them to do so. Remember do not coax or reassure them like you would a child as this will make them ten times worse! Your calm and confident presence will give them the reassurance that they need. 

Good luck and let me know in the comments below how you get on 🙂

Click here to get your FREE E-Book that reveals… How To Easily STOP Your Dog From Pulling On The Lead AND How To PREVENT A Dog Attack.

Whether it’s a small dog or a large breed dog you are looking to rescue there are some vital things to consider FIRST in order to prevent the experience ending in tears and you having to return the dog to the rescue centre.

Rescuing a dog is more than just providing a home for a dog, there are points to consider FIRST so you and the dog are a ‘good match’.

Watch this video to find out more…

Click here to get your FREE E-Book that reveals… How To Easily STOP Your Dog From Pulling On The Lead AND How To PREVENT A Dog Attack.

It’s such an AMAZING feeling watching your dog run freely off the lead, well, at least it is unless you are dreading that they will come back when you call!

Hopefully you’ve already read my previous post called:

Dog Recall Training – How To Get Them To Come Back When Off The Lead.

If not do have a look at that as that’s part 1 and this is part 2…

To help the walk be a pleasurable experience for you here’s a video where I show you step-by-step of what to do in order to get your dog to listen and come back to you when off the lead:

The important things to remember are:

• Your dog keeps their eye on you, rather than you on them. This means you walk ahead and look at them out the corner of your eye. Resist, if possible, the urge to keep calling them to you, just keep walking and they will come after you. Pack members keep an eye on the pack leader and the pack leader does not keep fussing after them.

• Should your dog be ahead of you, turn and walk in the opposite direction, they will soon notice and come running after you. You are again giving the communication, “I am the leader making the decisions and you are the follower”.

• A key point to remember is that dogs live in the now, so if they return on the fifth time that you call, they are good dogs. Why? Because they associate in the moment, which means you called them and they came. To punish them will be telling them off for returning. Dogs do not analyse or rationalise, they do not stand there and think ‘I was called 5 times, 4 of which I ignored, so that is why I’m being told off’ it sounds amusing just imagining they may do that!

I suggest calling them twice and then walking the other way. If your dog comes when they are ready and has ignored your come command, calmly put them back on the lead and walk changing directions for a while to reaffirm that you are the leader.

It is important to note that research has discovered that when dogs become focused on one sense, such as sight or smell, other senses shut down. This is why many dog owners say their dog goes deaf when they are interested in a smell or focused at someone or something, they really HAVE gone temporarily deaf!

Try this tip:

• With all those lovely smells around for your dog, make yourself REALLY interesting by rewarding them with their favourite treats when they do come back when you call.

Remember if at any time whilst in the park or fields your dog starts to ignore your requests, put them on the lead and walk to heel for 10-15 minutes in the same way you would when walking them to the park. During this time, in order to communicate your message, allow no pulling or sniffing (unless on YOUR terms), which will further remind them that you are in charge. After your dog has responded positively you can let them off the lead again, however you rarely need to do this when you have convinced your dog that you are the one that’s in charge.

Click here to get your FREE E-Book that reveals… How To Easily STOP Your Dog From Pulling On The Lead AND How To PREVENT A Dog Attack.

So many people are frightened to let their dog off the lead whilst others do so and hope for the best!

Which is why this post is about ‘Dog Recall Training’.

It’s so wonderful to watch dogs running free when off the lead and it’s CRUCIAL they come back when called.

So many people say that their dog comes back when they want to or it ends in disaster. So often dog owners are left feeling embarrassed, angry and fearful of letting their dogs off.

How to get your dog to come back is NOT rocket science but so many dog owners miss this easy and VITAL step.

In this video I show you EXACTLY what to do…

Letting your dog off the lead

My advice is to only let your dog off when they are responding well and walking by your side on the lead. Until you have communicated to your dog that you are in charge of the walk there is a strong possibility that your dog will do whatever they like when off the lead. Remember letting your dog off the lead is the affection side of the process and leadership needs to be established first.

Now, please do not misunderstand me, it is wonderful to let your dog off the lead, it is so joyful to watch happy and well balanced dogs enjoying their freedom and burning off excess energy. However, this is not an enjoyable experience if you are dreading an incident happening or are anxious that your dog may not come back or will only do so when they are ready.

It’s also potentially dangerous for your dog. Pack leaders do what they want, when they want, they come when they want and they go where they want. This is why it is vital to put leadership in place before letting your pet run free, a dog who feels in charge will return on their terms and when they are ready.

This may not be true in every situation, some owners say that their dog is much better off than on the lead but I would like to highlight here if you have a dog that does what he likes when let off the lead it is essential to establish leadership on the lead first.

I recommend an extendable lead whilst in the park so you can train your dog to return when called. By using high quality treats you can communicate what your dog is supposed to do and like all dog training this becomes so much easier once you have established yourself as the pack leader.

Sometimes dogs simply have not understood what they are supposed to do, rather than just being naughty 🙂

Click here to get your FREE E-Book that reveals… How To Easily STOP Your Dog From Pulling On The Lead AND How To PREVENT A Dog Attack.

I’m often asked this question about Dog Aggression…

‘When out with my dog what do I do when another dog, who’s off the lead, appears from nowhere and is aggressive, circles or follows me?’ 

Here’s what I suggest…

The best thing you can do in this situation is to RELAX and act as if NOTHING IS WRONG.

Why?

Because the concern, fear or anxiety you feel will go into the atmosphere and cause tension that both dogs will pick up on. This type of tension can CAUSE a fight.

Another point to mention here is it’s easy to start what I call…

‘There are so many irresponsible dog owners who have no control over their dogs’

…story.

Are there irresponsible dog owners who have no control over their dogs?

YES!

Do you want to attract those type of owners?

NO!

This is what I mean…

When we fear or dread something going wrong it usually does. When we tell the ‘There are so many irresponsible dog owners who have no control over their dogs’ story we attract more of them!

So instead, consider this…

Most dog owners will admit that there have been times when their dog has behaved in a way that they felt embarrassed or a bit out of control about.

There are even occasions when dogs who are normally great in a particular situation suddenly act out of character and the owner is left feeling shocked and embarrassed.

I often hear people say…

‘The owner wasn’t sorry enough or didn’t care that their dog didn’t come when called’

It’s true…when people are embarrassed and feel awkward they often don’t know what to say or how to act!

So give other dog owner the benefit of the doubt and ‘LET IT GO!’

Simply keep walking and act as if the other dog is not there – most dogs become uninterested and don’t follow for long when they get no attention from other dogs or owners. In most instances dogs off the lead have just wanted to come and say hello and nothing else 🙂

Give it a go!

By doing so you’ll have a recipe for attracting dogs and owners who are balanced, responsible and on the RIGHT wave-length.

Click here to get your FREE E-Book that reveals… How To Easily STOP Your Dog From Pulling On The Lead AND How To PREVENT A Dog Attack.

Today I’d like to talk about dog walking and what the walk really means to a dog…

The walk is an extremely important activity as it mentally stimulates your dog, it releases pent up energy and is good exercise. Additionally, it is a crucial time when dogs demonstrate their place in the pack.

When you take your dog out for a walk this is a time where you connect as a pack and install who is the leader and who is the follower. Many dog owners choose not to take their dogs out while others put their dogs in the car, drive to the park and let them off the lead straight away to prevent being pulled down the road. I understand the temptation as it is the easier option; the very thought of being pulled down the road, a possible dog attack and eventually arriving home feeling embarrassed, stressed and with a sore arm, it really is not an attractive prospect for anyone!

On numerous occasions I have witnessed stressed dogs change into happy and relaxed dogs just by getting this area right and it has become very clear to me that this is a vital area for showing leadership, as well as releasing nervous and pent up energy. It is why so many dogs will ignore pain inflicted by a collar so they can take that leader position, with them in front and you behind.

The walk is one of the main areas of leadership and although it does require dedicating time to do the training, it is well worth it. By avoiding taking your dog out or putting them in the car and driving straight to the park you are missing out on a major opportunity to convince your dog that you are the pack leader.

Getting this right eliminates other areas…

I remember an owner I visited for a home consultation, she had three cats and a Westie dog. The dog had viciously attacked the cats on a few occasions and had left such tension in the house that the cats lived most of the time upstairs, feeling frightened, and the dog downstairs, trying to get at them. The owners were at their wit’s end and dreaded another attack happening, so I was called in to save both cat and dog’s lives and return sanity to the household!

On the first meeting I explained the areas that her dog looked for leadership and how she could achieve this in a kind and gentle way. I requested that she first work on laying down the foundations of leadership. I returned a week later and asked for the cats to be placed in the small lounge downstairs so that we could put down boundaries and integrate them all. Looking at the owner’s face it was evident that she thought I was mad and that world war three was about to happen!

Before taking the dog into the lounge we took him for a walk so I could release any excitable or pent up energy (from both the dog and the owner!) and clearly demonstrate that the dog was a lower ranking member. We did this by ensuring that he walked calmly on the lead by our side. This also gave me an opportunity to reassure the owner and encourage her to think positively. I asked her to tell me all the wonderful things about her dog and her life, as I knew the recipe for success was to have both dog and owner in a balanced state of mind.

The dog responded quickly and favourably on the lead, so we let him off when we got to the fields. He stayed close and always came back when called. When we returned to the house it was evident that we had a relaxed and happy dog. We let him cool down, fed him and it was then a good time to introduce him to the cats.

I asked the owner to go into the lounge and I would bring the dog in whilst still on the lead. We walked in, he saw the cats, averted his gaze (which is a submissive act) and went lay in his bed. You could have heard a pin drop as well as the owner’s jaw hitting the floor! I handed the lead to the owner and she took him out of the room and brought him back in again with the same response. At the end of the consultation I let myself out as the owner was busy stroking a cat one side of her and the dog the other side. It would have certainly made a wonderful photo 🙂

Although this is an astonishing story the point I am making is this. We did not need to do any work with the dog or the cats we just needed to demonstrate that the dog was not in charge. We communicated with the dog during the walk, we drained his nervous energy and had a calm, submissive dog who no longer wanted to kill the cats. The important message from this example is that the owner was able to achieve a dramatic transformation in her dog’s behaviour and now lives in harmony with her animals. What was needed was an understanding of what was going on in her dog’s mind, for her to take the leadership position and to think positively and relax. 

So now it’s your turn!

It does take time and dedicated training to get this area right but when you do so many other areas magically click into place 🙂

Give it a try!

Click here to get your FREE E-Book that reveals… How To Easily STOP Your Dog From Pulling On The Lead AND How To PREVENT A Dog Attack.

Looking after a puppy properly is essential to your puppy’s development and puppy walking is high up on the list.

‘How far should I walk my puppy?’ is a very common question that I’m asked.

This is what I say…

It’s important to exercise your puppy and help them to burn off their excitable energy, a great way for them to get use to walking on the lead and socialization. However, I don’t suggest taking a puppy on long walks as their joints and bones are developing and can cause health problems such as hip dysplasia.

I recommend taking your puppy for short walks (about 15-30 minutes depending on the size of your puppy) and playing with them in the garden if possible. The benefit of being in the garden is that when your puppy has run about excitedly and becomes tired they can simply crash out and go to sleep!

This may seem obvious but when taking your puppy out for a walk please remember that whatever the time and distance it took to get to your destination, it will be the same on the way back! Should it take ten minutes to walk to the park it will be twenty minutes round trip.

The idea of the walk is not to totally wear out your puppy but to install your top dog position and create good associations and pleasure for you both.

I wish you great fun with your puppy 🙂