By Kate Naito We all know that vision loss is a normal part of a dog’s aging process. Nevertheless, when I woke up one morning this September to find my dog Batman suddenly blind, both he and I were in a state of total shock. Since then, we’ve both adjusted to his blindness, thanks toRead more
Blog: Training Tips & Info
A Little Adjustment Goes a Long Way
Has your dog ever refused to perform what is normally a simple behavior?At our most recent agility trial, Hank refused to weave. During our first run things were going well but then we got to the weave poles. Hank tried once and popped out. I sent him in again and he really tried, but gave meRead more
Teach a Trick in Five Minutes or Less
Teaching your dog a trick is easier than you might think. Watch this video and I’ll tell you how we taught this trick to Princess in less than 5 minutes. Princess the Chihuahua naturally offered that behavior with her front paws in the air as an attention seeking behavior. We knew that if we ignoredRead more
The Great Rawhide Debate
I was pleased to come across this blog post. It’s written by a veterinarian and says exactly what I tell clients when asked whether or not it’s safe to give rawhide to their dogs. Hi, I’m Doctor Fiona Caldwell, and I’m a veterinarian at Idaho Veterinary Hospital. I’m answering questions for pet owners today forRead more
Loose Leash Walking Video Tutorial
This video on loose leash walking was put together by an agility instructor but it is almost exactly the same way I teach loose leash walking, when using a flat collar, for our urban dogs. It’s a great video and a brilliant way to work on attention on leash. Even if you use another walkingRead more
We All Have Setbacks
I have already told this embarrassing story in some of my classes (and this was previously published in my newsletter). Last week, I drove out to NJ for an agility run-through with Hank. A run-through is sort of a practice trial. You walk the course like you would at a trial, but you are allowedRead more
Great Blog Post (and Amazing Photo)
A post from Tails from the Lab was brought to my attention because a Doggie Academy client is featured in one of the photos. The blog is a fun look into a couple that runs a photo and design business that is inspired by and caters to the animals around them. This particular post isRead more
Helpful Tip for Rewarding Behaviors
Many behavior modification plans require high value rewards. Likewise, training difficult behaviors or training in distracting environments also require a big payday for your dog. For most dogs, that means amazing food. Generally, the stinkier, the more gooey, the better. The problem with that is that it can be difficult for the person to manageRead more
Private Lessons vs. Group Classes
Clients often ask me, “What’s better, private or group lessons?” The answer is not necessarily short and is different for everyone. I’ll start with the pros of private lessons. Lessons are very flexible because they can be scheduled as early as 11am, as late as 7pm and do not have to be at the sameRead more
Consider the Source
As dog and/or puppy owners, I am sure you have noticed that absolutely everyone wants to give you their two cents about your pet. Well-meaning neighbors, dog park buddies and random passersby all offer you solutions for training, behavior, health, grooming… you name it! These well-intentioned opinions are all different and will often contradict eachRead more