Unleashed Unlimited
THE Dog Training Blog

As a lot of us know, Dock Dogs is a very popular and growing dog sport.  The Dock Dogs crew has been traveling around the US and internationally over the last few years, hosting events and growing the sport.  Corporate America has taken notice and Dock Dogs has been featured in a Domino’s Pizza commercial.

Although the dogs make a very quick appearance, it’s great to see a dog sport get national attention!

This article comes to us from Wayne Booth, of Canine Behavior Specialists, a dog training company in Nashville, TN.  Wayne also offers dog training information on his blog at DogTrainingBlogger.com .  I hope you enjoy the article.

This is a question I am asked quite often…. here are my thoughts on the subject.

Bringing home a new family member is an exciting event in anyone’s life. You may thinking - “I don’t want my puppy to be alone. Maybe I should bring home his brother or sister to keep him company.” Is this idea a good one or not? There are several things to consider before bringing home two sibling pups.

To begin with, as you probably know, a single dog is a huge responsibility that should not be taken lightly. Puppies require a lot of time, effort, love and attention that will be a significant part of your life when they come home with you. Two puppies is twice the amount of time, effort, love and attention and twice the responsibility. Be sure that you have the desire and the resources to offer that to two new family members.

Another thing to consider is that when two dogs are raised together, they bond a lot more to their sibling than they do to their human companion. Oftentimes, this affects their capacity to be trained, as they have less a desire to please their human handlers than if they had had time to bond closely and solely with their master. If a dog has his brother or sister to be close to, they may very well wind up too close and pay more attention to their sibling than to you.

Dogs are pack animals and two dogs together are a pack. Remember that packs are powerful things that function away from and outside of human influence and can be tough, if not impossible, to control. When a pack forms, a pack order must be established and this can mean problems for your brother sister team. Fights can break out when the two are bickering for the alpha role. This means that one or both of them could get hurt and that they could easily develop aggression issues, which are very difficult to deal with as a human handler.

If you are considering taking home two puppies from the same litter because of your breeder’s influence, be cautious. Remember that this is the breeder’s business and they may be just trying to make an easy extra sale with you. If your breeder encourages taking home two puppies at once without discussing the difficulties that comes along with having sibling dogs, steer clear and seek out a different breeder.

On the plus side, a brother sister duo may keep each other company and be able to play with one another. This, however, can happen by raising one puppy to adulthood and adopting another after you have the first dog trained. This solution is far less difficult than raising sibling puppies at once.

Remember that dogs don’t have the same emotional bond with their families that humans do and that a dog can be perfectly happy raised far from any of his littermates. The concept “I don’t want to separate them!” is derived from inaccurate assumptions about a dog’s family attachments and can lead to a very difficult situation.

If you must raise two puppies from the same litter at once, be sure to be in contact with a good dog behaviorist and your breeder as your situation will require a lot of work and you’ll need professional and experienced advice!

This is a great story, and it shows exactly what can be accomplished with dedication and a little effort.

When we first met Coco, his family was at the end of their rope. Coco was constantly jumping, barking, pulling on his leash, chasing the other dogs in the home, and constantly getting into trouble.  His owners were at the point of training him, or sending him back to the pound.  While he was simply displaying all of the typical signs of an untrained dog, it was a very serious and frustrating situation for his family.

Coco was immediately enrolled into our home manners package, and we got to work.  We made it clear to his family that in addition to us working with him and teaching them what to do, it was up to the family to be consistent with his training, and practice in between lessons.  Coco’s entire family remained consistent and followed through on their end of the deal; we saw huge improvements after just one lesson!

The next few lessons went the same way, we checked out what we learned last time, and moved him onto new things.  In order to manage Coco inside and around the home we worked on the following skills…

• Loose leash walking
• A solid recall and sit
• A “go to your bed” and lay down
• Dropping things from his mouth
• Quiet
• All of the other small skills that help us manage our pets

In the end, this story is not about superior dog training, there was nothing special about Coco’s situation or curriculum.  This story is simply about how dedication and communication can save a dog from a undesirable outcome and restore order and peace to a terrific family.

So if you are currently experiencing chaos and frustrations with your pet, contact Unleashed Unlimited and see for yourself how we can restore sanity into your lives.

If you enjoyed this entry, don’t forget to subscribe to our blog.  You will be automatically notified as soon a new entry is made.

One of our most successful advertising campaigns so far has been our vehicle wraps.  We have had a lot of success gaining exposure, generating leads, and building Unleashed Unlimited’s brand recognition with our other car, so we decided to get Tracey’s Explorer wrapped as well.  Take a look:

It is somewhat hard to tell by these pictures, but the hidden in the blue background is a photo of several dogs that has been “ghosted” into the background.

We would like the thank Patrick and the rest of the crew at Infinity Conversions for a job well done.  If you are driving in the Austin area and see either one of our vehicles, give us a wave!

Often times we get calls from prospective clients that are at the end of their ropes with their dog’s behavior.  We hear tales of the dog destroying furniture, jumping on people, digging in the yard, pulling on leashes, and so much more.  Their stories are usually followed up with the statement, “Either we train this dog, or we get rid of him!”  It is very apparent that they are not enjoying their relationship with their pets.

We all need to realize that dog training is not a last resort.  We need to view dog training as:

• An opportunity to establish a line of communication
• An approach that will teach them how to behave
• An effort to prevent problems before they arise
• A way to manage our pets
• An mentally stimulating outlet for their energy
• A means to an end of enjoying time spent with your pet

One thing that I wish more dog owners realized, is that your dog was not born knowing how to behave!  Without being taught, they have no understanding of the rules in which you want them to follow, they have no idea how to walk on a loose leash, and they don’t know the appropriate ways in which to greet a person.  When the dog’s behavior gets to be too much for us, we often resort to giving the dog to a shelter; this is not fair!  When considering how much time and money a dog involves, please factor in training; your pet will thank you.

These are just a few reasons to train your dog, I can think of at least 15 other reasons to train your dog. If you want to prevent misbehavior, start off on the right foot with your dog, or simply enjoy the experience of owning a dog, make sure to contact the best Dog Trainers in Austin.

If you enjoyed this entry, don’t forget to subscribe to our blog.  You will be automatically notified as soon a new entry is made.

I realize that many peoples’ perceptions of dog training are different then mine.  But regardless of the training approach and expectations, training your dog does not end at the conclusion of your 4, 6, or 8 week training program.  Whether you realize it or not, your dog is always learning something; it is up to us to make sure they are learning the correct behaviors.

Let’s first decide what is training and when are you training.  Yes, training is the formal process of dedicating a certain amount of time to practice and teach your dogs new things, but more importantly it is communication.  Because we don’t want our dogs to ace their training lesson and then turn into complete lunatics when the formal session ends, we must realize that training also happens when you are eating dinner, answering the doorbell, walking them, and watching television.

As anyone who has taken part in any training program knows, you are taught to interact with your dog in certain ways.  Adding or eliminating body language cues, working your dog through confusion, following through and holding your dog accountable are all parts of what you were taught.  Remember, the goal of training your dog is not to have them behave when you are in class with your trainer; the goal of a training program is to have your dog behave in the reality that is your life.  Therefore, it is up to you to apply what you and your dog have learned into your daily lives and interactions, it is up to you to continue to practice and implement these things even after your dog has received their diploma.

So to answer the question posed in the title of this entry, you are never completely finished training your dog; there will always be communication based on the rules they were taught.  Of course as your dog’s behavior improves and he becomes a well balanced pet, you will not be spending as much time giving instruction.  However, in order to keep your dog’s desired behavior current, we do have to always continue to practice, implement and interact with our dogs as taught in class.  That means downing them when welcoming someone into your home, keeping them in a heel or at least a slacked leash when walking, and not allowing them to beg at the table - life is all still just one big training exercise.

If you enjoyed this entry, don’t forget to subscribe to our blog.  You will be automatically notified as soon a new entry is made.

In America, 37% of dog owners own more then one dog.  Owning multiple dogs can be a lot of fun for you and your dogs, but owning multiple dogs can bring on new a new set of challenges as well.  It is important that you consider the pro and cons of owning multiple dogs before you take the plunge.

Evaluate your current dog’s behavior and your relationship. If you are experiencing behavior issues that stem from a lack of leadership, a second dog will not fix this.  Also, if you have no control over your current dog, it will only be worse with another dog that is also jumping on people, barking incessantly, and stealing things off of your counters.  Make sure your current dog behaves and is manageable on their own first.

Are you ready to train another dog? Remember all of that work and time you put into training your first dog, are you ready for round two?  Also consider that once you train your second dog, the training then shifts to training your two dogs together.  Additional training drills have to be done to iron out the wrinkles of walking them both at the same time, distinguishing who you are calling to you, and who should remain in a down, and many others.

Are you ready for your expenses to double? Remember, the cost of boarding, grooming, vet bills, food bills, money spent on beds, toys, leashes and collars will most likely double.  Dogs should each have their own bowls, beds, and leashes; somethings should not be shared.

It’s not going to be exactly the same. Remember how much of a lifestyle change you went through when you got your first dog?  Well, going from one dog to two dogs is going to be a lot easier.  You still have to arrange and adjust your schedule to feed and walk them, you still have to make boarding arrangements when you go out of town, and you still have to vacuum up all of that dog hair.  But, be prepared for possible new and different responsibilities and obligations that your new dog will bring into your life; such as medications, food allergies and other health issues that your first dog did not come with.

There are no guarantees that your dogs will automatically get along.  Although your dog plays well with others at the park, bringing a new dog into your home will be different.  Are you prepared to work through issues such as proper introductions, power struggles, and resource guarding?

These are just a few things to think about when considering a second dog.  Talk to your friends, family members, and co-workers that own multiple dogs and get their advice, opinions and suggestions for owning more then one dog; and make sure you are ready.  Please check back to our dog training blog for a future article that will provide information and tips on selecting a second dog.

If you enjoyed this entry, don’t forget to subscribe to our blog.  You will be automatically notified as soon a new entry is made.

As all Unleashed Unlimited clients know, we have a program that allows our clients to receive FREE dog training; what could be better then that? You get the well trained dog that you always wanted and the training is free!

Here is how our referral program works.  As a client, if you refer 5 people that sign up for any one of our training programs, you are issued a refund for your training program.  I know what some of you might be saying, “I am not going to bother my friends and neighbors and pressure them into buying something, just so I can get my dog trained for free”.  Trust me, it is very easy to impress people with a well-trained dog.

We have had clients that have simply been walking their dog on the hike and bike trail in Austin and someone commented on their dog’s behavior.  Co-workers have noticed pictures of our clients’ dogs and and the conversation naturally turns to training.  We even had a client get a referral from someone watching them keep their dog in a sit while they threw away a poop bag at the dog park.  Like I said, A well-trained dog gets noticed.

To all of our clients out there, if you know anyone who is looking for Dog Training in Austin, have them contact us for a FREE demo and evaluation!  All service related businesses rely heavily on referrals for new business, and Unleashed Unlimited is no exception.  We greatly appreciate your confidence in our business and we want to extend a huge THANK YOU!

PS - Lee, if you are reading, please give us a call.  We would love to thank you, your Catahoulas, and your Min-Pin!

The place command is one of the most useful skills that you can teach your dog.  When we teach your dog to place, we are simply teach them to target a specific location and respect the boundary of that location. In the simplest definition, place simply means to put all four paws on an object (that is different from the ground) and remain on that object.

The object that you are using as a place can be a professional dog training placeboard, a dog bed, a bench, or anything else that a dog can comfortably get all four of their paws onto.  As your dog gets the concept of the place command, you can use your imagination and advance their skill level by placing them on other objects like tree stumps, a brick, and even your own body.

Placing is great for building the foundation for distance and distractions, because all your dog has to do is respect the boundary that we have taught them regardless of what is going on around them.  Many of the skills that Unleashed Unlimited teaches, revolve around the place command; the uses are endless.

*  Overall control and management of your dog

*  Can aid in training fearful dogs

*  Providing a familiar object in new environments

*  Making the dog aware of it’s entire body

*  Clearer definition of the heel position

*  Prevention of sloppy sits and downs

*  Teaching directionals

Stay tuned to our dog training blog for more tips and pointers on teaching your dog to place.  In a future entry we will cover selecting the right objects for placing, introducing your dog to the place, and simple body language tips to help your dog succeed.

If you enjoyed this entry, don’t forget to subscribe to our blog.  You will be automatically notified as soon a new entry is made.

We are often asked, “How much should I feed my dog?” and “What is a good food to feed my dog?”  While there is no one food that every dog will do best with, and the amount of food varies by activity level, brand, age and weight of each dog, there are rules, guidelines, and responsibility should be practiced when it comes to feeding our dogs.

* Do not free feed your dog! Free feeding (food is always in their bowl and available to them) is possibly one of the most common and harmful mistakes a pet owner can make.  Besides it being a very important leadership mistake, free feeding can quickly add a lot of unhealthy weight to a dog and lead to greater problems down the road.  You should control the food in your home; you decide and regulate the amount of food your dog eats, and when they eat it.

*  Be in control of the food. Food is a resource that belongs to you, therefore you should be able to pet your dog during feedings, put your hands in the food, take up the bowl at will, and return it to them without any growling, biting, or serious guarding issues (if you are experiencing this, we urge you to contact a professional to help you deal with the issue). If you live in a household with multiple dogs and are not controlling the food, it is likely one of the dogs in the house have taken that responsibility upon themselves and often times leads to behavior issues amongst themselves.

* Feed your dog a high quality food. Many inexpensive dog foods contain a large percentage of fillers, such as corn.  Only a very small amount of the corn and other fillers are actually digested by your dog, the rest is just passed out in the form of solid waste.  Smaller amounts of high quality food can be fed to your dog because more of the nutrients and other ingredients are digested, resulting in less waste.

*  Do not over feed your dog. On the back of most dog food bags, a suggested amount of food is usually recommended based on the age and weight of your dog.  However, please remember the source of this information - THE DOG FOOD MANUFACTURER!  Often times dog food companies will suggest feeding your dog larger amounts of food in attempts to sell more of their product, and in many cases a lot of the food is un-digestible fillers.

*  Food can be used as a motivator. If you are implementing food into your training sessions, feel free to use some of their kibble.  Kibble is much more nutritious and contains far less calories then the decadent treats that owners often feed their dogs.  When using kibble in training, subtract that amount from their daily intake.  In other words, if your dog eats 1 cup of food at night, use 1/4 cup for training and feed the remaining 3/4 cup as their meal.

*  Be consistent in your feedings. As much as possible, try to feed your dog at the same time of the day, in the same location.  Consistent feedings will aid younger dogs with potty training, and get them into a routine. However, as your schedule varies, your dogs will adjust.  Also, don’t switch brands or flavors all the time.  When introducing a new flavor or brand, the new food should be mixed with the old food in the proper ratios over the course of a few days or weeks.

*  Do not confuse food with love. Take them for a walk, play fetch, or groom them; these are better ways to show your dog you love them then stuffing them full of food and treats.  Giving your dog more and more food and treats will not get them to love you any more.

If you enjoyed this entry, don’t forget to subscribe to our blog.  You will be automatically notified as soon a new entry is made.