Breed Of The Week: Rhodesian Ridgeback

The Rhodesian Ridgeback has a strong and purposeful history. In the mid 17th century, African Khoi dogs were the common dogs for hunting and used for herding and protecting cattle from animals such as lions and leopards. Through selective breeding and years of refining a dog who could endure the African bush, thrive in spite of extreme temperatures and limited water, and yet would be a brave and cunning hunter and loyal family dog. 

Today, the Rhodesian Ridgeback is South Africa's national dog and is known as an intelligent and focused hound. With the vigor to ward off lions, this dog can tend to be domineering and may not be the best fit for a family looking for their first household pet. 

They must be guided from a young age with a firm sense of clarity and rules, and are therefore require a great deal of patience and understanding to raise into happy and healthy dogs with a job and purpose. I highly recommend consulting a breeder to discover whether or not this breed would be a good fit for you. Rhodesian Ridgebacks are incredibly affectionate, but also determined hunters and leaders and are therefore not the best fit for everyone. 

Dog Training 411: Spotlight on Bruno

Bruno is a Shepherd and Lab mix who is doing such a fabulous job with the bike and backpack! His owners contacted me for training as they saw a few concerning behaviors such as spatial unawareness and the beginning stages of separation anxiety. 

They have done a great job of applying my methods of 1) exercise, 2) discipline, 3) affection (in that order) and have seen great strides of improvement in Bruno's behavior. Every dog needs a job, and I helped them discover that Bruno's job could be carrying water bottles on their daily walks. 

While Bruno's in home manners are still a work in progress, his owners continue to work with him regularly to instill a sense of respect and purpose to his coming and going in the house, and I believe he is on an excellent track to be free of separation anxiety soon. 

Breed Of The Week: Puli

The Puli is a fascinating and beautiful sheep herding dog from Hungary, though its similarities in appearance to the Tibetan Terrier have made some believe it could originally be from China. They have a stunning coat, consisting of two layers that matte as they age, depending on how it is groomed and cared for.

A loyal family dog who is always looking for a job, the Puli can be skeptical of strangers and has a more naturally dominant disposition. While they fit into smaller homes and suburbia life due to their medium size, this dog is most ideal for the farm. 

They can become over protective and take a dominant role in the household if not given clear rules, boundaries and limitations. I would highly recommend consulting a breed specialist who can inform you more fully on whether or not the Puli would be a good fit for your household. 

They make fabulous pets, but the time and dedication it takes simply to maintain their coat is above and beyond what most family dog owners are looking for. The Puli is truly a unique and stunning breed, and they are fabulous at sheep herding!  

Dog Training: Taking Your Dog To The Dog Park Is Not Enough

The local dog park is such a great invention! Bringing your dog to a place where they can play with other dogs, sniff new trees, splash in water and get their jitters out is awesome. But it is simply not sufficient as their entire exercise regimen. Since the dog park is packed with very rewarding experiences, it is much more natural for dogs to have access to it as a reward at the end of a long walk rather than in place of their walk.

This is how I like to think of the dog park: it is a place that is full of a myriad of energy levels. Some dogs are more dominant than others, and some dogs have more stamina than others. The dog park will always be a hyper, tense, relaxing or healthy place for dogs depending on the dogs that are currently at the park and how healthy those dogs are physically and psychologically.

It's very common for people to bring their dogs to the dog park without walking them first, so the jitter bug is high, and many times people are unaware that their dog immediately dominates the environment of the dog park once they arrive, making it potentially tense ground when other dogs enter the scene.

I'm not saying that everyone walking their dog before going to the park would solve all of the problems that happen at dog parks, but it would certainly lower the energy level and make for less problems in the long run. The good news is that you don't have to worry about what other dog owners do or don't do with their dogs, all you have to do is focus on your dog and their health. 

I believe it is best for your dogs overall health to socialize them after you exercise them. That way they are less likely to overreact in a tense situation, and they have had an opportunity to get in sync with you and your rules on the walk. So take your dog to the dog park, but walk them first!

Breed Of The Week: Chinese Shar-Pei

The Chinese Shar-Pei has existed for many centuries in the souther provinces of China, at least since the Han Dynasty, around 200 B.C. While the origins of this peculiar breed are vastly unknown, the Shar-Pei got it's name from it's rough, sand like coat. The word Shar-Pei literally means "sand skin", though is loosely translated as "sandpaper-like coat". 

It is thought that the Chinese Shar-Pei were the dogs of peasants, often bred for hunting, guarding, and herding. This breed is highly intelligent and trainable. Though they are easy to exercise and socialize, many owners have discovered just how destructive these beautiful dogs can be when not properly exercised and socialized. 

Shar-Peis are adaptable and protective, known to pick up a myriad of jobs due to their versatile background. I would highly recommend walking your Shar-Pei daily, and taking them to as many social activities as possible. They are great family dogs, though they can be skeptical of strangers and unfamiliar dogs if not socialized regularly, so they are not ideal for the homebody family. 

Dog Trainer: How To Teach Your Dogs And Cats To Get Along

If your dogs and cats don't currently get along, you are probably keeping them separated and constantly frustrated trying to keep track of them. 

I lived with this same frustration for about six months as I worked through my cat hating my dog and my dog trying to eat my cat. Keep in mind: you can certainly work through these problems and have your cats and dogs live together in harmony, but it's a daily incremental process. 

Highly recommended is working with a professional trainer through this process, so you can have guidance along the way. Cats and dogs have some similarities in their body language, but many differences.

Dogs instincts inform them that small and non-dog animals are for playing with and chasing, whereas cats tend to put off a vibe and are accustomed to other cats understanding whether they want to be left alone or not. Cats don't always pick up on dog body language and dogs don't always pick up on cat body language. 

You can absolutely teach your dog that the cat has exclusive rights to be in locations and have special attention, and that they are to ignore the cats when they are near the dogs. And you can absolutely teach your cat that it is not acceptable to hiss and run away into a dark corner every time it sees the dog. 

These are things that I taught my cat and dog, and now they get along great, though they mostly respect each others space and ignore each other. Consult a professional trainer who can help you understand what to do if you are in a similar situation. 

Breed Of The Week: Boxer

The history of the modern day Boxer is lengthy and selective. In the early 19th century in Germany, breeders began developing a hunting dog from the Bullenbeisser bloodlines. This dog would be fearless in the face of large game such as bear, boar and bison. Over much continued selective breeding, the modern day boxer is both a fabulous farm dog, guarding and herding cattle, and a common family pet who is very protective in nature.

Boxers are very tough and energetic dogs with a high level of intelligence. They are best suited for families who are committed to doing full on activities and who can provide for their high working drive needs. There are many common behavior problems that are associated with boxers, because when they don't get ample exercise and discipline, this breed tends to become over protective of the wrong things. 

They are incredibly loyal and constantly "on watch" for who (or what) they can protect and how. This can be both a wonderful or highly inconvenient trait for families with small children. While they make great guard dogs, they may become like stubborn babysitters of the children and may even become possessive. If you are considering a boxer for a pet, I would highly recommend chatting with several other boxer owners and learning what their experience is.

Boxers are in the working group, meaning they were bred to do a specific job. They were bred to find, protect and be loyal both on the hunt and at home in German farmlands. Therefore, this is not the ideal dog for apartment living or the family looking for a dog with minimal daily exercise or job related needs.

Again, boxers can make fabulous family pets, but they need a fair amount of leadership and clarity of rules, roles, a job and proper exercise. This may simply be carrying a backpack around the neighborhood on the family walk, and set on guard duty in the back yard during the day. I would highly recommend consulting a professional to determine how your lifestyle can blend with a boxer if you are considering owning one or if you already do.

Dog Training: The Importance Of Daily Exercise

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you just never exercised your dog?

I preach the benefits of daily, exhausting physical and mental exercise for your dogs, but I haven't talked much about what happens if you don't exercise them. What I can say with 100% authenticity is that the root of the behavior problem for every dog and owner pair I've worked with has been a lack of exercise.

Behavior aside, your dog's health will go out the window. If you go back to dog's origin, the wolf, and look at their lifestyle, you'll see how important their stamina is. If they don't walk, they don't eat. Simple as that. Your dog's nature says: walk, then eat.

I Maybe you have a hard time setting time aside to walk your dog, and you don't fully see the benefits of walking them everyday if you have a big yard. This is a normal thought process, but it doesn't diminish your dogs need to travel on all fours.

The bottom line is that your dog has physical, psychological and emotional needs just like you do. Just as you need to move your body in order to stay healthy, it's so important to meet these needs for your dog. You'll find that a dog who doesn't get walked ends up channeling their energy in a destructive way.

I have a big yard and a treadmill. It would be easy for me to avoid walking my dogs, but I can't argue with the results of providing for their basic needs. I would encourage you to meet your dogs' basic needs, too, and experience the happiest and healthiest life with them possible!

Breed Of The Week: Chihuahua

Chihuahuas are the smallest of all dog breeds, and belong to the Toy Group. While little is known about the origin and history of the modern day Chihuahua, in 1850, Americans began acquiring these small dogs from the state of Chihuahua in Mexico (hence the name). 

This extremely small and super tough dog breed is known to be "clannish" meaning that they often prefer being around other Chihuahuas as opposed to other dog breeds. For socialization purposes, and as a professional dog trainer, I don't recommend that you only allow your Chihuahua to play with and be around other Chihuahuas. 

Due to their size, these dogs often are treated with "small dog syndrome" which means that people have the tendency to coddle them and pick them up. My best advice to avoid any problem behaviors from your Chihuahua would be to treat them like a large dog. Create the same boundaries you would for a Rottweiler.

Imagine if your small dog was fifty pounds heavier and ten times the size. Would the behavior they are displaying (jumping, inviting themselves onto furniture, snapping at strangers or guests, etc.) be acceptable? Chihuahuas are desirable as family dogs because of their size and loyalty. They are affectionate and often easy to care for, but socialization and exercise is an absolute requirement if you want your pup to have a happy and healthy life with your family. 

Dog Training: Keep Your Dog's Energy Drained

Do you find yourself having less energy than your dog does? You're not alone! Maybe you're in a situation where you have an exhausting job and a high energy puppy, and you can't figure out what else to do to get the puppy to tire out regularly.

If this sounds like your circumstance, I have a few ideas for you. If you have access to a bike, I would highly recommend biking with your dog rather than walking them. Why? Because it can drain your dog's energy in half the time, and probably won't completely drain your energy. If you don't trust yourself on a bike or your dog on the leash, then certainly have a professional show you what can be done. 

If the bike riding simply isn't an option for you, I would recommend taking your dog to the dog park and walking them around the park for at least a solid fifteen minutes before letting them off the leash. This allows playing with the other dogs or a toy at the park to be a reward for their walk. Another great energy drainer is a treadmill. Same with the bike, I highly recommend having a professional come in and show you how to safely and comfortably set this up, but it's a great way to drain some of that excess energy. 

Does your dog like to play fetch or tug? After your walk, these are great activities to do that can help your dog channel their energy in a productive and relationship building way. Most people simply aren't walking their dogs enough, and unfortunately this is often due to a lack of prioritizing the dog's exercise needs. I would encourage you to consider that your dog needs more exercise than you think, but it doesn't have to be as exhausting as you think in order to drain their energy regularly!

Breed Of The Week: Miniature Schnauzer

The Schnauzer is originally from Germany, and is said to be recognized in pictures from the fifteenth century. Miniature Schnauzers have taken on many of the physical characteristics as the Poodles with small Standards. Because of their background in hunting small vermin, they are desired as family dog for the farm life. 

Miniature Schnauzers are an ideal family dog, as their size has allowed them to adapt to life in the suburbs. And yet they have a high prey drive and can stay on task for an extended period of time, so they make great outdoor pets, too. 

If you are considering owning a Miniature Schnauzer, keep in mind that while they are small, they need a lot of physical exercise, and are best when also given a mentally stimulating job. Anything that you can do with them that requires their prey drive and ability to find things would be great. 

They are a loyal dog who does well with children, so involving the kids in their exercise regimen and daily job is a great thing to do. Remember, Miniature Schnauzers are part of the Terrier Group, and can therefore be rather tenacious, stubborn and long winded. 

I would recommend consulting a puppy profiler to determine whether or not a Miniature Schnauzer would be a good fit for your families lifestyle. They can be easy to train, but just as with every other breed of dog, there is never a time when training is not necessary.  

Dog Training: Teach Your Dog Not To Beg

Begging is not something that your dogs does inherently to get what they want. Instead, it is a learned behavior and they determine over time whether it works or not. Does your dog get food when they beg? Do they get your attention? If so, it's because they have learned that begging gets them what they want.

So how do we flip this around so that your dog gets what they need on your watch, rather than what they want on their watch? We can teach them that all begging does is get them sent out of your space. By teaching your dog a command like "get out", you can help them understand that when they pester you, you're going to send them away. 

Teaching your dog the "get out" or "space" command is simple! Cue that they get out of your space with your body language, say "get out!" with a stern, low voice, and then toss them a treat once they leave your bubble. The main point is to teach them that the most rewarding response to your request is that they move outside of your space. 

Another key in teaching your dog not to beg is to simply not give them what they're begging for. Are they begging for food? Don't feed them directly after they've been begging. Are they begging for a walk? Have them wait in a down-stay for a solid minute until you call them over to where you put their leash on. Remember, the goal is to give them what they need on your watch, not what they want on their watch. 

Breed Of The Week: Weimaraner

The full origin of the Weimaraner dog breed is not fully known, though they are thought to be descendants of the Bloodhound. Recognized by the AKC as part of the Sporting Group today, the Weimaraner is a well versed hunting and retrieving family oriented dog. 

If you have ever interacted with a Weimaraner, you know that they have a beautiful temperament, they are focused on the task at hand and also incredibly loyal. As a possible cousin to the Pointer, Weims are very agile and full of stamina. They make great advanced obedience dogs, as they are prepared for being jobbed with a task from their master. 

Behaviorally speaking, the most common problem that I see happen with Weims is when they are not properly jobbed or homed. If they are paired with a person who refuses to let them sport, or give them an appropriate job and ample physical exercise, I see Weimaraners develop issues such as anxiety and activity obsession.  

This being said, they need at least two solid long walks or bike rides per day, and frequent social events such as visits to the local dog park. They are incredibly active dogs, and while they make great family pets, they really do well to have a specific job and preform that job daily with the family. 

As with any dog from the Sporting Group, I would recommend chatting with a puppy profiler to determine whether or not this breed would be a good fit for your activity level, your families lifestyle, and the dog's overall breed needs.