What age should I start training my puppy/dog?

Right now! There is no “perfect” age to train a dog. Be it a puppy, adult, or senior, training can be a rewarding venture for both dog and owner. Yes, you can teach old dogs new tricks.

Should I take my dog to the dog park?

That depends on many factors. First, does your dog get along with other dogs? Not all dogs do, and there is certainly nothing wrong with it. Some can be overwhelmed by the activity at a dog park, and some much prefer a nice game of fetch with you to romping around with strangers. Does your dog share his or her toys? Scuffles can often occur over frizbees, tennis balls, and other toys. Dogs don’t have the concept of ownership as we humans do, so its hard to explain to them that you paid $15 for your dog’s toy so you could play with him and not the whole group. Is your dog overly shy or overly rambunctious resulting in scuffles? If so, a one-on-one play date may be more beneficial for their needs. Breed of dog is also another factor. Some breeds are generally aloof to other dogs, making their time at a dog park uneventful or even stressful, while others are generally less tolerant of other dogs resulting in scuffles and owner arguments about who’s dog “started it”. For more information reguarding bull dog breeds in dog parks, click here.

Things to keep in mind:

Dog parks are breeding grounds for diseases. Although we’d like to think its so, not all dogs who go to the dog park are properly vaccinated or in good health. Being sure your dog is up-to-date on all their vaccines can greatly reduce the chances of them catching something harmful. Keep a close eye on your dog and what he picks up off the ground. Standing water can often build up bacteria, so, if hoses are available, be sure to refresh the water dish before allowing your dog to drink from it.

Be aware of who your dog is playing with and what their body language is telling you. Just like people, dogs can get annoyed with their playmate from time to time, and often when they say “hey knock it off” we humans tend to interpret it as an aggressive act. If another dog is bullying yours, try moving to a different part of the dog park, asking the owner of the other dog if they wouldn’t mind calling a time-out for a couple minutes, or leaving the park all together. Its much better to cut play time short than leave it to chance if you are uncomfortable.

Most dog parks have rules posted reguarding age, health, collars, behavior, and sometimes even size of the dog. These rules are in place to ensure the safety of you, your dog and everyone else at the park. Follow them.

Avoid distractions like cell phone calls or trying to catch up on work documents. Not all owners pay attention to what their pooches are up to, and this can lead to trouble.

Dog parks can be wonderfully fun places as long as you are proactive about you and your dog’s safety.

My last trainer told me I need to be the alpha for my dog to respect me, but I don’t see anything about that on your site. Why?

Dog owners hear this outdated and widely discredited statement all too often from trainers with no formal background in learning and behavior as well as those unqualified in behavior such as vets, pet store workers, even TV shows, and unfortunately both dog and owner can suffer the consequences of utilitizing such methods. Below are some wonderful articles reguarding the use of dominace theory in companion animals and it's fallout.

What kind of treats should I use for training?

Just like some people have a taste for one dish and others another, dogs differ from each other in their tastes. Some favor peanut butter, some favor liver, cheese, bacon, ect. Some may not favor food rewards at all, but enjoy toys, games, or a walk instead. There is no one-size-fits-all training reward. For food rewards, I generally suggest something small and soft. Small and soft treats take less time to eat, therefore it takes less time away from your session. Play around with different flavors and figure out what your dog likes! Natural Balance food rolls diced up make wonderful training treats (and reasonably priced ones, too!), as do many different options on the market. If your dog isn’t a huge fan of treats, or if he recently ate, opt for a favorite toy or a game as her reward for a job well done.

Is it okay to play tug with my dog? I've heard it can make him aggressive.

Yes. Dogs come pre-programmed with the instinct to tug, so you are not putting any ideas in their heads, and it will not translate into aggressive behavior. Tug, played with appropriate rules, can in-fact be a wonderful training tool to teach impulse control and jaw prudence, as well as getting your dog some exercise! The rules to tug are:

1. Human initiates the game. You decide when the game starts and stops, not Fido.

2. Use only one tug toy. This will make the clear distinction that this one toy is for tug, rather than any object you pick up.

3. Dog must "out" on command. Before a heated game of tug, be sure your pup understands the command "drop it". If he fails to drop the toy at your request, oops! game over.

4. No teeth on skin. This is where you will teach your pup good tug manners. If his teeth so much as graze your skin, the game is immediately ended.

5. Frequent obedience breaks. This will help to teach your pup to get in and out of excited behavior quickly. After a minute of tug, temporarily stop the game and ask him to perform a few commands, such as "sit", "down", "shake", or anything else that he might know. Reward him by continuing the game of tug!