The Dublin Dog Company has just released their new line of non-stink, bacteria proof dog collars.  The new beach inspired line of Dublin Dog Collars is called the Santa Cruz collection.

As always, we have the entire line of Dublin Dog Collars on sale! Just enter the code dublin09 during check out and head out to the beach!!

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We have been running into a lot of shy, nervous, and fearful dogs lately, a little more than usual.  In addition to strong leadership, a solid foundation of obedience, and socialization, these dogs need some confidence!

One of our favorite ways to build confidence in shy dogs is to teach them to maneuver over the agility equipment.  Not only does it help them feel a sense of accomplishment but you can see them start to become more outgoing and willing to participate after their initial exposure to the different obstacles.  These experiences absolutely start to carry over into other aspects of the dogs’ lives as well!

Agility is not only good at building some confidence in these shy and nervous dogs, but it’s a ton of fun too!  Whether you have a shy dog or an outgoing knuckle head who is just looking for a job, find out more about our obstacle training and confidence course by clicking here.

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More and more dog parks are popping up in communities across the country, many are publicly funded while others are privately owned.  My questions is, Would you pay for some type of membership in order to have access to the dog park?

The whole topic of paid memberships for dog parks was originally brought up by a general posting from the Kong Company on their facebook page, and I thought it sparked an interesting debate.  Out of the feedback from the post, many people had a hard time justifying paying money for something that they think should be free, while others state that they are currently paying a fee to use these parks.

If you were to pay a membership fee to use a dog park, what types of benefits would you need to experience in order to justify your payment?  Would you want increased maintenance or lights?  Would you need to see additional features like running water or agility equipment?  Would you expect a membership cap to avoid overcrowding or some type of screening process to ensure that the parks are filled with the well balanced and socialized dogs?  What are your thoughts?

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We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again – We have THE BEST clients!  In order to show a small sign of our gratitude for all of your support, we will be breaking out some cold beverages and firing up the grill after group class on Sunday, July 18th.

We are inviting all current and past clients and their families to enjoy the afternoon with us, and of course well socialized dogs are welcome as well (no aggression cases)!

The small get together will be free of charge and will run from approximately 11am to 2 pm at our Leander dog training facility.  Food and drink will be provided and everyone is more then welcome to bring their own alcohol if desired.  Please send us an email or let us know if you plan on stopping by so that we can get an accurate count for food and drink.

Hope to see a lot of you out there!!

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I was reading an article recently and it mentioned that Google is a dog friendly company and allows it’s employees to bring their dogs to work!   Everyone from the Senior VP of Operations to less senior staff have the option to bring their dogs to work with them!  How cool is that?!

Now of course there are some limitations to the allowance, but they are totally legitimate limitations.  Evidence of fleas, excessive barking, biting, chasing, and other similar actions are considered unacceptable and the dog will have to be taken home upon the first complaint.  Limitations are also imposed if other employees who are allergic to dogs are being affected.

In addition to these guidelines, it’s clearly stated in Google’s code of conduct that Google isn’t cat friendly company: “Google’s affection for our canine friends is an integral facet of our corporate culture. We like cats, but we’re a dog company, so as a general rule we feel cats visiting our offices would be fairly stressed out.”

Not only can Google employees bring their dogs to work with them, but Google’s dog friendly nature carries over into another facet of their operations.  Instead of noisy lawn movers, Google rents goats to help cut down the amount of weeds and brush at Google HQ.  The operation of 200 goats (plus herder and a border collie) is kind to the environment, and as Google puts it: “A lot cuter to watch than lawn mowers.”

How about any of you out there, is your company dog friendly like Google?  Do you bring your dog to work, would you if you had more control of your dog?

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There are currently over 225,000 apps available in the Apple iTunes Store.  Included in those huge numbers are some great iPhone apps for dog lovers, take a look at a few of our favorites.

The Fido Factor app is a great resource to locate dog friendly locations in your area. The app automatically detects your location and helps you find the nearest dog parks, dog friendly restaurants, bars, pet stores, and hotels. Once you determine where you want to go, you can instantly download directions and head over for some dog friendly fun!!

The Dog First Aid app contains a ton of important knowledge about your pet’s health. While this app should not be used as a replacement for routine or emergency vet care for your pet, it does contain great information. Out of similar apps out there, this one is the most respected by veterinarians.

The iKnow Dogs app is a fun way to increase your knowledge of different dog breeds. Pictures and general information are available for a lot of different breeds, and you can also search the data base using different characteristics like temperament, coat type, size, country of origin, etc. This is a must have app for anyone considering getting a new dog!

What about you?  Do you have another app that should be on this list?

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We all know how important and useful the place command can be, and if you’re not practicing it at home – you should be!  Either during dinner time, movie time, answering the doorbell, or just relaxing, a properly taught and proofed place command can make all of the difference managing your dog around the home.

For a limited time only, we are making our placeboards available in a variety of choices when it comes to fabric and leg colors!  We are still going to carry the small placeboards as well as the long placeboards (and even our trick training and placeboard combo) but now you can finally have a placeboard that has as much character as your dog!

These placeboards are only going to be available for a limited time, then we go back to the boring blue boards, so head over to our online store for a complete list of color options!

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Have you ever tried to have your dog lay down while at a friend’s house, or told your dog to come at a new park, or introduced your dog to a stranger in a place where your dog has never been before?    Whether it be a delay in response time, a display of fear or uncertainty, or the overwhelming urge to explore the new environment, many of us get a much different response from our dogs in new places.

We all know that our dogs can be very easily effected by environmental factors that you and I take for granted.  Simple things like new smells and sounds can have a big impact on our dog’s behavior, not to mention the other more obvious factors that are present in new locations. In order to advance our dogs’ training and overcome location specific training, it’s important to expose them to new locations and bring them out of their comfort zones.  Here are some tips to help your dog become used to working in new environments.

• Start by finding the right locations to work with your dog, instead of taking your dog for a walk along the same route everyday, explore new parts of your neighborhood.  If you are an Unleashed Unlimited client who usually comes to our Leander dog training location, try coming to one of our Austin dog training classes for a change of pace, and vice versa.  Meet up at a friends home or a park that they visit frequently and do a little training in their favorite locations.

• If your dog is having a hard time in a new environment, don’t get frustrated or mark the wrong behaviors, remember to stick to the core concepts of your training program, don’t panic!  Instead, take a step back and practice something a bit easier and let them be successful, then return to more challenging tasks.

• Remember to keep moving!  Movement is a great way to dissipate stress in dogs and it can help them regain their focus back on you.

By working our dogs in new environments we can constantly expand their comfort zone and increase the dog’s confidence and skill level.  The world is such a better place when we have confident, obedient, and well socialized dogs!

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Get ready, another great dog friendly event is being held right here in Austin!  Bark in the Park Austin, which is going to be held on July 17, 2010 in Zilker Park,  is a family friendly community event that promotes responsible pet ownership through outreach and education.

Not only will there be rescue groups, veterinarians, and other dog oriented services present at the event, but Bark in the Park Austin will be also hosting some on stage panel discussion sessions that will address some very important Austin pet-related topics. Some of the topics that will be discussed are:

1.  How does ‘No-Kill Austin’ impact our city?
2. Fostering 101: What YOU can do to make a difference.
3. Training Techniques: Different approaches for different dogs?
4. Food for Thought– Understanding dog food labels and your dog’s needs.

Bark in the Park Austin, which is presented by HauteDog Magazine, is sure to be a good time for us and our dogs.  If you are interested in attending or are looking for more information about the Bark in the Park Austin event, please visit their website.

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1. Can you provide a brief overview of yourself and your business and services?

My name is Mike Loesche. I am a graduate of National K-9 and have attended training at Robin MacFarlane’s “That’s My Dog” as well. I am the owner and head trainer of Homeland K-9 in Springboro, OH. I specialize in remote collar training and “board and trains”. Once a client’s dog completes a board and train with me they attend group classes in order to solidify the obedience around real world distractions. This builds confidence in the owner’s ability to be able to control their dogs in public. I also offer Puppy Preschool, Kinder Puppy, and Specialty Training such as Tracking 101, Fun Nose work, and Sport Protection.

2. What advice can you give a potential dog owner who is looking to adopt from a dog/puppy from a shelter?

When most people decide to adopt a dog, the first thing they think about is how cute the dog is. They also often want to know if the dog has any obedience training or is housebroken.

I believe the two most important things to consider are is the dog confident, and is the dog sociable with humans and other animals. The answer to these questions are not always evident just by seeing a dog at the shelter. My recommendation is to take the dog outside and away from the kennel area to see how they interact with you and your family. I would also bring a ball or tug toy to see if the dog has any drive. This is going to be important for positive obedience training. Remember, a dog can always learn obedience commands and be housetrained with consistency after they are adopted. However, if a dog is super fearful or unsociable a new owner may find it difficult to turn this dog into a desirable member of the family. It would take a very patient owner to adopt a dog with these characteristics.

3. From your experience and in your opinion, what are some of the most common mistakes dog owners make?

I think the biggest mistake I see is owners believe bonding with their dog means spoiling their dog. In fact, it is just the opposite. Dogs need someone in charge. This comes through obedience training and rules. Your dog will love and respect you more if they have boundaries and leadership. Do not make your dog an equal by allowing him/her to sleep in your bed, eat people food, and get on the furniture. I am not referring to owners who buy small dogs for the purpose of having a “lap dog” as this is OK. However, Even lap dogs should not be in bed with you or treated as if they were a human child.

Another major mistake that I see is that for most dogs, when they are purchased or adopted it is like hitting the mega millions overnight. Everything is free for the dog. They have to do nothing to survive. I try to teach my students that the dog needs to work for everything he/she wants. For example, food, toys, going outside, getting praise, etc. This can be accomplished by doing something as simple as making your dog sit before going out the door or laying down before feeding. This will not only make your dog’s obedience more reliable but also teaches the dog that you are in control.

4. What is the most remarkable thing you have seen a dog do?

I personally did not witness this, but found this story amazing, click here for the story.

5. In your opinion, what is the single most important command you can teach a dog and why?

I believe all basic obedience commands are important, however the command “look” or “watch me” command is probably the most important. Whether the dog is hyper, aggressive, fearful, or whatever, if the dog learns to focus on his/her owner when told he/she is not paying attention to his surroundings. This reduces the possibility of the dog acting in a manner that the owner does not want. Saying this, I will say that without a lot of consistency most owners have a hard time solidifying this command around distractions.

A lot of owners are concerned about having flashy obedience. This “flash” is usually not used. In actuality they probably use the first command they ever taught their dog 99% of the time. For example, when you go into your vet’s office and there is a dog in the lobby that is barking and pulling on their leash at your dog. What is the first thing you are going to ask your dog to do? Sit…. This is more than likely the very first command you taught your dog. A solid, basic foundation around distractions is extremely important and is more useful than tricks and the flashy obedience.

6. Can you provide any useful information, advice, or tips for dog owners who frequent off leash dog parks?

Some of you are probably not going to like the answer to this, but in my opinion, a big reason why people frequent a dog park is to have their dog play with other dogs. However, I think that the biggest reason people frequent these parks is so that they can allow their dog off leash in a fenced in area.

I personally am not a big fan of dog parks. I want my dogs to be socialized with other dogs, however I have seen dogs develop bad habits at dog parks such as dog aggression and fear. These behaviors develop because, let’s be honest, not all owners who take their dogs to dog parks are responsible. If every dog at the dog park was current on their vaccinations, obedience trained and well socialized, the risk of these behaviors developing would be minimal. Unfortunately, you cannot guarantee the owner next to you is as responsible as you are. If you are going to be at a dog park, my advise is use lots of supervision, and if anything becomes questionable with your dog’s behavior or another dog’s behavior, you need to leave for the day. You want to be sure that you do not allow something to develop that will make the park a negative experience for your dog.

I think that most owners have a goal of having off leash control in any environment. Why take your dog to a dog park when you can use this same energy to take them to an open field, camping, hiking, etc. As a dog owner and professional trainer I want my dog to have more fun with me than with anything else in life. This might seem crazy but lets think about it….with training, if your dog is used to being leashed up to go to the dog park and run with other dogs, how eager are they going to be to leash up and work with you? In comparison, where do you fall? Socialization with other dogs is important but I believe it should be controlled by me as the owner.

7. What skills/concepts do you find dog owners have the most trouble with, and what advice do you give them?

I do not use a remote collar as a correction tool, but rather use it to prompt and motivate the dog to perform a command. In remote collar training, the biggest problem I see is owners who stop using the collars too soon. Two weeks into an obedience class I see the owner not pushing the button to get their dog to perform a command. When I ask them why they say “I don’t have to push the button anymore to get my dog to sit”. I tell them that it is very important to keep your dogs conditioned to the collar and the training. If the owner is not consistent with the training I find that they then begin to use the collar incorrectly (as a correction). This results in the dog associating the collar with a punishment rather than a prompting tool.

8. Do you have a product, event, video, organization, or something else to promote that you feel our readers can benefit from?

I am currently sharing Remote Collar Training Secrets with dog owners through my newsletter. I want to take the secrecy out of using a remote collar properly. Readers can register for the newsletter here.

I am also currently taping a documentary on How to Raise a Puppy…the First 120 Days. This documentary won’t be released for about 6 months but will instruct owners on how to have a confident and friendly, obedient, off leash dog in the first 120 days. It will be available on my website.

I am also in the process of developing a trainer’s school. My hope is to have our first class available before the end of the year. I am very excited about this opportunity.

9. Is there anything else you would like to add or share with our readers?

I appreciate Paul Sulinski of Unleashed Unlimited for the opportunity to be featured on the Trainer’s Spotlight.

I would like to extend a big thank you to Mike and the rest of the Homeland K9 family.  Be sure to check out Mike Loesche’s website and sign up for his free newsletter. Thanks, Mike!

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