I’m sure we have all heard the term less is more.  So staying with that theme, if you could only pick two skills to teach your dog (any two skills at all), what would you teach and why?

Feel free to leave your responses in the comment area of this post, and in our next post I will post and explain my answer and discuss some of the other submissions as well.

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Obesity in our dogs is a very serious medical problem.  All of that excess weight take a big strain on our dogs’ heart, lungs, joints and hips.  Overweight dogs are more like to have complications during surgery and are much more at risk for respiratory problems during warmer weather.

Recognizing an overweight dog can be very easily spotted as an outsider, but it’s often harder for owners to recognize obesity in their own dogs.  Take a look at the chart above, where does your dog rank, and what do you think is the ideal body shape?  Feel free to leave your response as a comment below.

Stay tuned for an upcoming entry that will provide the correct answer and a lot more information about obesity and dogs.

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For the past few weeks, Tracey and I have been working on putting together a complete training manual that is totally focused on puppies, and we are proud to announce The Puppy Manual.

The Puppy Manual is composed of tons of useful training information that is aimed at getting puppies and their owners started off on the right foot.  It’s filled with pages and pages of useful training tips, drills, protocols, and scenarios that are geared at turning your puppy into the dog you want him to be!  Take a look at the video that provides a ton more details.

If you would like more information on the puppy training instructional guide or would like to purchase The Puppy Manual, you can visit The Puppy Manual page.

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I am sure we are all aware of the different levels of quality that exist across the board when it comes to consumer goods.  I personally know the difference between a pair of speakers and a good pair of speakers, the difference between pizza and good pizza, and most definitely the difference between dog training and good dog training.

The exact same thinking applies to breeding dogs; yes, it goes way beyond simply breeding two dogs because they are both purebred.  When considering getting a puppy from a breeder, here are some of things you will want to look for:

• They interview you to see if they want to sell you a dog, a good breeder will not sell a puppy to anyone simply because they have money
• After doing a lot of research and planning, they have matched the mother and father up for specific reasons
• They keep the pups with their mother and litter mates 8 weeks or longer
• They select a puppy for you that will best fit your lifestyle and needs
• They start handling and socializing the pups very early
• They don’t breed 10 different types of dogs at their facility
• They require that you return the dog only to them if the dog ever needs to be re-homed
• They don’t constantly have litters available, and don’t have multiple litters at one time
• They discuss the potential drawbacks of getting two dogs from the same litter

There is so much to think about when selecting a dog from a breeder, and from a shelter.  A responsible breeder doesn’t have to hit every single one of these points on the above list, but many of them should be covered.

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Many dog training programs are structured and held once a week for a certain duration of time, usually in the neighborhood of 6-10 weeks.  While all training programs require practice and consistency in between lessons, what happens when you are finished with your 10 lessons?

While this approach is fairly typical and has worked in the past, Unleashed Unlimited offers a variety of training packages, most of which include unlimited lessons!  Here’s why we feel that unlimited lessons are a better solution for most:

All dogs and owners learn at different rates - Taking a cookie cutter training approach to every dog just doesn’t seem advantageous.  Unlimited lessons allow us to work the pace of you and your dog.

We have other things going on in our lives - Committing to every Saturday afternoon for the next 10 weeks is difficult for some.  This is not a problem with unlimited lessons, simply jump back into classes when your schedule frees up.

A higher curriculum takes time – Because we take our training to a very high level, we are not going to rush through the different skills.  Unlimited lessons allow us to move our clients and their dogs on to the next level when they are ready.

Training is an ongoing process - Just like with us, our dogs’ skills can get rusty with time.  Our unlimited lessons allow you to attend “brush up” lessons as you see fit, no matter how well behaved our pets are, there is always opportunity to sharpen our skills.

If you are currently shopping around for an Austin Dog Trainer, give Unleashed Unlimited a call!  Not only can you get unlimited training, but you can also get your dog training for free!

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With all of the Christmas puppies coming into their own, we have recently been getting a lot of calls relating to typical puppy issues.  This is such an important time in those young dogs’ lives; so much of what they are learning, or not learning, is shaping them into the dogs that these puppies will become.

When seeing an older dog with fear issues, human aggression, nervous tendencies, handling issues, and other similar traits, it may be common to assume that the dog was abused when they were younger.  I have heard countless people ask, “I wonder what happened to that dog when he was younger that can explain these behaviors.”

Often times it may very well be a case of abuse that can be responsible for these behaviors, but more times then not, as a trainer, I find myself asking, “I wonder what didn’t happen to that dog when he was younger that can explain these behaviors.”

It’s this type of reasoning that is the focus of our Puppy Consultations and our upcoming puppy e-book – an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  If you are the proud owner of a new puppy, now is the time to get started exposing him to the necessary drills and situations that will help shape him into a steady and social dog.

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We are proud to announce that our Trick Training 101 course is starting in a few weeks!  In this class, you are going to be working hands on with your dogs and teaching them some of the basic tricks that all dogs can easily master.

In order to get a complete description of the tricks we will covering and to see all of the registration info, class dates, and other details, please check out the Trick Training 101 page. Hope to see you out there!

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We spend much of our time earning what is necessary for survival; food, shelter and clothing and if we’re lucky, the little extras. We go to work and perform our daily duties and in return earn a paycheck  to pay for the necessities. Thinking and problem solving  at work exercises our minds and by the end of the day, has proved to be tiring. Take for instance, being in a meeting for a day; while physical exertion does not play a part in the equation, by the end of the day we can be just as exhausted from thinking.

Why not have our dogs working and thinking for their food? There are several ways to have your dog earn their own paycheck; one of the ways are interactive, food dispensing toys, they are great ways to feed your dog as they have to think about what gets them the food and can entertain them for hours. A proven sturdy favorite in my household is the Tug-A-Jug. The bottom of the toy unscrews which allows you to easily load it with food at mealtime and then the game begins. The dogs quickly figure out which end the food comes from but the most challenging part is how to manipulate the rope toy to dispense the food. This has kept my dogs busy for hours, which is an added bonus after a long day of work.

There are also some good choices for the dog that looses interest easily; such as the Twist and Treat. What makes this toy unique is that you can control the level of difficulty by adjusting the size of the gap in which the food is dispensed. It can also accommodate dry food or treats and even peanut butter.

Many dogs need more mental stimulation than is being provided on a daily basis, and it is equally as important as physical exercise.  So whether you are having a short training session before mealtime, or using interactive toys, or doing something else, having your dog work at meal time may be your missing link!

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In recent years we have all heard a ton about going green, but did you know you can take steps and “go green” with your dog?  Here are a few ways…

Scoop That Poop

While regular plastic poop bags can immortalize your dog’s No.2 in a landfill for hundreds of years, using biodegradable poop bags is a great way to be green with our dogs when cleaning up after them in public.  However, when cleaning up around the yard, skip the bags all together and use a pooper scooper to collect all of those land mines into one larger trash bag.

Toys Made From Recycled Materials

Several toy manufacturers now offer great dog toys made from recycled materials.  You should not have any problems finding great balls, bones, and other toys for your dog that are eco-friendly; in many cases the packaging is even green! Although these are excellent options, just remember that the ultimate green dog toy is the good old-fashioned stick!

Beds Made From Recycled Materials

In addition to dog toys being made from recycled products, you can also find dog beds filled with eco-friendly green fillers. These beds are not only great looking, but are filled with a material called IntelliLoft, which made from recycled plastic bottles.  Another option is to re-use your old worn out dog bed by getting a dog bed duvet from Molly Mutt.  You can even fill it with old t-shirts, towels, and other items from around the home.

Eco Friendly Dog Shampoo

When you bath your dog, choose your shampoo carefully. Ideally, you should use a green shampoo that doesn’t contain sulfates or phosphates, or anything else that can harm the environment. It’s also a good idea to cut down on how often you wash your dog; he doesn’t need frequent bathing, and you can save water by washing him less.

These are just a few ways to go green with your dog.  If you have other tips and suggestions for being green when it comes to your dog, please comment below and share them with others.

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This post comes to us from Robin MacFarlane of That’s My Dog! in Hazel Green, WI.  Robin is a fantastic dog trainer, speaker, and mentor; we are very lucky to have her contribute to our blog.  Enjoy the article!

Lately we have been getting an increase in calls regarding problems in multi-dog households. Often we hear that one dog is *suddenly* becoming aggressive with the others and causing fights. Without exception, a lack of human leadership in the home is the primary cause of the problem. What seems sudden has actually been a building problem, but the symptoms went without notice.

In an effort to help a dog * be happy* many people add more dogs to the household for companionship. However, there is often surprise when this addition creates tension and chaos rather than a play buddy. It is true that lots of people live with two or more dogs without difficulty but that success is due to their ability to convey structure and rules to their dogs (whether they realized it or not).

The key to living successfully with multiple dogs is understanding their needs and motivations, as well as how those things work in a group dynamic. In short, dogs that are allowed to create their own rules and structure are not going to set up a nice little democracy where sharing and fair play will be the standard.
Unfortunately is doesn’t naturally work that way with a group of dogs. Well, it doesn’t always work that way in human groups either……at least not without someone being in charge. Animals will covet resources. For our domestic dogs the resources are food, toys, you and space.

Armed with the knowledge of what is important to your dogs, you can now establish routines of living together and maintaining the peace in your tribe. Here are a few thoughts on the types of routines to fall into.

* Adequate exercise: Dog’s that have pent up energy are going to be prone to frustration (which leads to scuffles) Make sure your dogs get adequate exercise in the form of structured walks/jogs on leash with you. Too often it is assumed that having one of more dogs will mean the dogs will entertain one another by playing in the back yard. While this may be true, it does not replace the responsibility and value of walking the dog.

* Control feeding time: Many fights start around the food bowl and during feeding time. Feed each of your dogs from his/her own bowl rather than expecting them to share. Put down the food (feeding the calmest dog first) and remain in the room to ensure no one is attempting to steal someone else’s ration. If this is not possible due to your schedule than consider separating the dogs by using crates or different rooms. Dog’s should be allowed to eat without feeling they need to defend or guard their meal.

* Take charge of space in your home: Dogs are very spacial oriented. *Territory* such as the couch, the bed or access to the front door, should be something you control rather than your dog. If you allow your dog on the furniture, be aware of potential problems and watch for dogs who begin to defend that space. Growling, lip lifting, baring teeth, etc. should be nipped in the bud at the first sign. These behaviors indicate your dog believes he/she has the right to warn off others. If you mistakenly excuse the behavior it can escalate into fights down the road.
You may need to remind yourself that it is; Your Couch, Your Bed, Your Front Door…….rather than your dogs. It is easier to keep perspective on the appropriateness of Fido’s actions when you take this viewpoint toward his/her behavior.

Dog’s can also begin to become possessive of you and it is not uncommon for one dog to growl when another comes near you. This is often interpreted as *he/she is jealous when I pet the other one*. Jealous isn’t really the right emotion to attach to this type of behavior. Imagine if your dog could speak. Rather than growl, you would hear him/her saying, “Hey Dog, back off, that is MY human!” Does that sentence change your perception of what is going on? It should and your response to such behavior is “Quiet Fido” I have the right to pet and play with which ever dog I chose in this house……cause after all, I pay the mortgage.

* Monitor play time: It is normal for many dogs to play by wrestling, grabbing each others neck, play biting and tugging with toys. Supervision of these activities will allow you to intervene if you feel it is getting out of hand. As you learn to calm the energy down when it gets too high you will be teaching the dogs to develop better self control when playing. Without supervision, wild, high energy behavior can escalate until, just as our parents told us when we were growing up “someone’s going to get hurt”

Living with a group of dogs can be delightful. But it is a responsibility. Sometimes it is easy, sometimes more challenging. The dynamics are going to depend on the individuals that make up your group. Pick wisely as you add new members to your household, establish boundaries and rules early on and find professional help if you are currently struggling with one or more of your canine companions.

Woof!

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