You Can — and Must — Speak Up for Your Dog

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Before I was a force-free trainer, I took my own dog out of a bad training situation. There is no reason to let any trainer harm your dog.

I wasn’t born a dog trainer. No one is. I have, like many of you, a deep compassion and love of animals — and of dogs in particular. And, like some of you, my childhood was not a rosy one but instead full of neglect, so I looked for love and companionship from dogs. They always delivered both.

Perhaps as a consequence (of the good kind) from that rough childhood, I am sensitive to the needs to animals. I am also an outspoken advocate of humane training protocols for dogs, in part because I know how awful I felt when I was mistreated by the adults who were supposed to be looking out for my welfare.

[ Read the entire article on Dogster.com … ]

You Can — and Must — Speak Up for Your Dog

Posted by

Before I was a force-free trainer, I took my own dog out of a bad training situation. There is no reason to let any trainer harm your dog.

I wasn’t born a dog trainer. No one is. I have, like many of you, a deep compassion and love of animals — and of dogs in particular. And, like some of you, my childhood was not a rosy one but instead full of neglect, so I looked for love and companionship from dogs. They always delivered both.

Perhaps as a consequence (of the good kind) from that rough childhood, I am sensitive to the needs to animals. I am also an outspoken advocate of humane training protocols for dogs, in part because I know how awful I felt when I was mistreated by the adults who were supposed to be looking out for my welfare.

[ Read the entire article on Dogster.com … ]

What Do Outdated Dog Training and a Pit of Spiders Have in Common?

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Dogster resident trainer Annie Phenix explains how Cesar Millan’s fear-inducing methods harm instead of help dogs.

Do you enjoy being afraid? I mean really afraid for your safety and well being?

Engaging the flight or fight response system is stressful. It takes a toll on the body, no matter if that body belongs to a human, a dog, or a pig.

What are you afraid of?

[ Read the rest of the article on Dogster.com … ]

Puppy 101: Important Lessons for Your Dog’s First Few Months

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 Follow these tips to help your puppy develop a positive foundation for socialization and behavior.

Puppies and dogs do not arrive in our lives already understanding our house rules. If you have a new dog in your life, spend time now laying down a foundation that will serve both of you for the rest of the dog’s life.

Month one

This is the most critical month of your dog’s life. Immediately schedule a wellness exam with your veterinarian, and get the first or second round (sometimes breeders/shelters have already given the first round) of vaccinations for your 8-week or older puppy…

[ Read the entire article on Lucky Puppy … ]

Puppy 101: Important Lessons for Your Dog’s First Few Months

Posted by

 Follow these tips to help your puppy develop a positive foundation for socialization and behavior.

Puppies and dogs do not arrive in our lives already understanding our house rules. If you have a new dog in your life, spend time now laying down a foundation that will serve both of you for the rest of the dog’s life.

Month one

This is the most critical month of your dog’s life. Immediately schedule a wellness exam with your veterinarian, and get the first or second round (sometimes breeders/shelters have already given the first round) of vaccinations for your 8-week or older puppy…

[ Read the entire article on Lucky Puppy … ]

Does Your Dog Jump Up? Teach Him to Sit Instead

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Since a dog cannot sit and jump at the same time, teaching this command solves a common problem.shutterstock_334924070-800x500

One of the most common reasons for pet parents to call a trainer is because their dog jumps up on people. Often I find that clients have been inadvertently reinforcing the “jump up” by yelling at the dog or even kneeing him (please don’t do either — it’s ineffective and not nice). So what’s the easiest way to stop a dog from jumping on people?

[ Read the full article on Lucky Puppy … ]

How Can I Stop My Dog From Going Crazy at the Front Door?

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Dogster resident trainer Annie Phenix shares tips for teaching dogs to sit calmly and not bark at arriving guests.

Help! My Golden Retriever is perfect in every way but one: She goes bananas whenever anyone comes to our front door. She is never aggressive, but she gets frenzied and jumps all over our guests in her excitement. Is there anything we can do to stop her from doing this?

Thanks!

Bella W.

Austin, Texas

Hi Bella,

Boy oh boy, you would not believe how many times dog trainers get asked this one! It is a SUCH a big problem for dog owners coast to coast! I am happy to offer some real-life solutions … [ Read the rest at Dogster.com ]

Petition Calls for Cesar Millan to Lose His TV Show — Let’s All Sign It!

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In a recent episode of “Cesar 911,” the TV personality used one of his own pets as bait for an aggressive dog who had killed pigs in the past. Both the pig and the dog suffered.

As a professional trainer and someone who deeply loves animals, I have never enjoyed watching Cesar Millan handle dogs.

In his role as a television personality on various programs, he often scares dogs in the name of training and seems oblivious to this fact — or he simply does not care. He’s been called out over and over again by countless organizations, professional trainers, and behaviorists for using outdated and physically painful methods.

[ Read the entire article on Dogster.com … ]

Petition Calls for Cesar Millan to Lose His TV Show — Let’s All Sign It!

Posted by

cm-hero1

In a recent episode of “Cesar 911,” the TV personality used one of his own pets as bait for an aggressive dog who had killed pigs in the past. Both the pig and the dog suffered.

As a professional trainer and someone who deeply loves animals, I have never enjoyed watching Cesar Millan handle dogs.

In his role as a television personality on various programs, he often scares dogs in the name of training and seems oblivious to this fact — or he simply does not care. He’s been called out over and over again by countless organizations, professional trainers, and behaviorists for using outdated and physically painful methods.

[ Read the entire article on Dogster.com … ]

How to Help Your Dog Love Being On Leash

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A leash should be a sign of fun things to come, and it can be if you follow these four tips.

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What is the one training tool every dog owner eventually uses? A leash. We also need leashes to keep dogs and humans safe. However, not all dogs understand what a leash is or how we humans expect them to behave on it … [ Read the rest of this article on Lucky Puppy! ]