How to approach or not approach a person their dog

In my profession I have been hyper vigilant in noticing how people greet other people & their dogs.  Sometimes it is down right scary the way a stranger will approach another stranger & their dog.  Honestly, I am surprised there are not more dog bites occurring during this uninformed greeting process.  Kudos to those dogs for having SO MUCH tolerance.

So, what is the best way to approach another human walking their dog?  This post will address how a person without a dog should approach or greet another person with a dog.  In the meantime, dont forget to read our post on how kids should greet dogs.  Some of this information will be the same, because we all need to have better manners when meeting & greeting dogs.

First I want to bring up The Yellow Dog Project, because I get a lot of people asking me about this.  This is a movement to try to educate people that if a dog is wearing a yellow ribbon, that dog needs more space & promotes appropriate contact with those dogs.  I think this is great!  BUT, I feel this should be the case with ALL dogs, as you will soon learn. I wish this project was promoting proper interactions with ALL dogs, because people should be learning how to interact properly with all dogs, not just ones with a yellow ribbon.  I think they missed the big picture on this one, but my hats off to them for trying to bring awareness in greeting dogs.

1. Not all dogs want to say hello to all people all the time.  This is something that dog loving people have a real hard time comprehending sometimes.  After all, they are dog lovers & all dogs love them.  Well, I hate to burst bubbles, but that is not always the case.  Please dont take it personally either.  Just because a few dogs do not appreciate your intentions does not mean you are not loved by lots of dogs.  :)

·         Even if you have a regular meeting with another dog, does not mean that you should not go through the proper greeting ritual each time you interact.  You should.  Even very social dogs have their off days, or sometimes they are even in pain that you might not be aware of.

2. Evaluate the dog from a distance.  This is very important to do before approaching a person and their dog.  Just stop & watch what is going on.  Does the dog seem comfortable & relaxed?  What about the person?  If either seems stressed, or in a hurry, this would not be an ideal time for approaching.  Try again another day.
3. Approach slowly, relaxed & not making eye contact with the dog.  Please, whatever you do, do not keep extended eye contact with a dog.  This makes a lot of dogs very nervous & unsure of your intentions.  Unlike us primates, canines consider this a threat.  So, as you approach, look at the person & casually gaze at the dog to read his body language.
4. Stop 5-10 away from the person & their dog.  Look at the person & ask if you can say hello to their dog.  Please dont ask if their dog "is friendly" because even a friendly dog doesnt always want to say hello.  Not to mention, some people may take a bit of offense by this question.

·         Wait for an answer.  You are doing a great job so far, asking to greet, just dont forget to actually wait for the person to either say "yes" or "no."  If the dogs person says it is ok, ask what the dogs name is.

5. Ask the dog.  Another step often overlooked is to actually ask the dog if he wants to say hello.  Calmly say the dogs name & quietly tap your outside leg & say "hi Dexter (insert the dogs name)."  You want the dog to come up to you, dont rush up to the dog.

·         If the dog comes up to you, gently pet under the dogs chin, chest, & side area.  If the dog moves away at anytime, do not follow him, ask him to come back for more petting.  If he doesnt come back, he no longer wishes to be pet. 

·         Dont get over exuberant in your petting.  For one, this can intimidate some dogs.  Secondly, a lot of people are trying really hard to teach their dogs not to jump up when petting.  Being overly excited can cause a lot of dogs to jump up.

6. Thank you.  Dont forget to thank the dog and their person for allowing you to greet.  Thank you goes a long way in our society.

Tips:

·         If the dog is barking, or jumping around do not approach. 

·         Dont put your face in a dogs face.

·         Dont approach a dog while he is eating, or chewing a toy.

·         If a dog feels stiff, stop petting & back off.

·         If a dog keeps leaving you during petting he probably does not want to be pet anymore.

Need some extra help?  I offer both in person & online, web, video instruction!
Please feel free to contact me for details.

Tonya Wilhelm-Global Dog Training http://www.globaldogtraining.com

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Looking for a Dog Trainer in Metrowest MA

New England K-9 School for Dogs located in Hopkinton, MA serves customers in the entire New England area. From puppies to problems to protection..."For quality without compromise since 1973." Awarded "Best of Metro West." Private lessons in your home or at the school by appointment. We offer all phases of family pet obedience training. These services include basic obedience lessons, house breaking, problem dog issues, and puppy consultations through private personalized programs. We also offer specialized services which include: Schutzhund, AKC obedience competition, personal protection, tracking and guard dog training. We are proud to have the following affiliations-US Professional Dog Trainers Association and Technical Advisory Service for Attorneys (TASA), Veterinarian Approved & Recommended!

We tell all our clients that this is not dog training. It is 100% people training. The dog is only as good as you are. Up until now the dog has trained you, from now on you train the dog. Up until now you thought that you were the boss. The dog knows that he is the boss. These are the things we have to change. It is all done with a lot of love and praise and a leash and a collar.
For the life that you own your dog, anything I can help you with over the phone is free.

We are Located in Metrowest Massachusetts and provide dog training services to Worcester, Framingham, Milford, Franklin, Bellingham, Needham, Dedham, Norwood, Newton, Waltham, Cambridge, Belmont, Brookline, Arlington, Walpole, Foxborough, Marlborough, Northborough, Wellesley, Dover, Sherborn, Natick, Concord, Acton, Hudson, Maynard and surrounding areas.

For more info visit http://www.nek9dogtraining.com/

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How to Condition Your Dog to a Muzzle

Image Credit

After a year of not posting on this blog, I am posting again! Not every day, just when I have something I feel like writing about and when I have the time to do so.

Today I wanted to go over How to Condition Your Dog to a Muzzle. This will come in handy if you have an aggressive dog, or a dog who just needs to wear a muzzle for grooming or nail trims. Or perhaps you use a muzzle for something else like barking or digging.

To Condition Your Dog to a Muzzle simple put a treat in the muzzle. As they put their nose in to get the treat, say Muzzle and mark it with a YES! or a click of a clicker. Repeat. Keep doing this till you can say Muzzle and your dog eagerly puts their nose in.

Once your dog is putting his nose in on cue, you can start buckling it around his head. Give him a treat, then take it off. Repeat this until your dog is looking for his treat after youve buckled the muzzle on him.

Next, let him wear it for a moment while you walk him around. Give him a treat every now and then for wearing the muzzle. If he tries to paw at it to get it off, tell him no and get his attention back on you. If he knows any tricks or anything, see if hell do them for some treats. After a few moments of your dog wearing the muzzle with out trying to get it off, take it off.

Make muzzle time, treat time! No muzzle equals no treats. Gradually build on how much time your dog wears the muzzle. Once he or she is feeling comfortable wearing it, gradually fade out the treats he gets while its on.

There you go! Now you have Your dog Conditioned to wearing a Muzzle!

Amy @ Talented K9 Dog Training
Talented K9 Website
Facebook Page
YouTube Channel

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Picked up a card

As I continue to smash everyday as best I know how I am very concious of my game of 52 pick up.

As with most days/weeks this one wasnt any different in the way of presenting challanges. I found that not picking up a card has been more satisfying than picking one up.

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I wanna be a Rockstar

Rockstar Racing I dont ride for them. The jersey was a gift, post crocodile trophy last year. I love the graphics. Given the quality of riders on the Rockstar Racing team I am sure the jersey has some "smash them" magical powers hehehe...

I love my new ride. I picked up the frame & fork 2nd hand. I then picked up an Ultegra SL groupset from Velo.net.au & built it up myself.


This weekend saw lots of great criterium racing. Saturday was an hour & 1/2 ride to Nundah for 40 minutes & 2 laps in B grade. This photo says it all. It was a fast, furious, full (60 riders!) race.


Today was a drive south to give Race 3 of the Sizzling Summer Series a hit out. My Natalie has now done the first 3 races of the series. I have been mountain bike racing each time. I was able to enter this one at the last minute.

The course is fast. A couple of easy going corners that require a little fore thought with positioning. This was one of the hard working people of many that have made this series a great event. "Hey cookie, your egg muffin burgers are the best!"



Cheeky & all round nice guy, Pat "The Tank" took out the win in my race, Masters B peloton today. I will find a photo of this dude somewhere.

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Just For Fun If my Dog Wrote a Blog

it would probably look something like this

 

and it would most likely be about this

 

 

(besides the ball I dont know what hes doing either, but he knows. He definitely knows.)

 

OR

maybe hell be writing about how he actually caught a Frisbee that one time

 

 

 maybe about how cruel his mom is for putting treats all over him and not letting him have them!

 

 

...maybe about how he sometimes gets away with napping in mommys favorite chair

 

Oh, The life of a dog seems so ruff......

 

 

 

What would your dogs blog be about?!

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How To Give A Dog A Bath

Dog baths are a pretty essential part of any well cared for dog.  But you may have some questions on the best way to bathe your dog.  In this dog article, I will give you some helpful tips in giving your dog a good dog bath.  Of course I reached out to some professional dog groomers as well for their ideas.

First thing first.  If your dog has handling issues, and does not like to be touched or handled, please speak with your dogs veterinarian to rule out any medical conditions.  Then follow up with a qualified dog behavior counselor to work on desensitizing your dog to being touched, groomed, and bathed.

How often should you give your dog a bath?  When I asked this question to professional dog groomer Donna Berggren, her reply was " As long as the pH matches the dogs skin, you can bathe as often as you like.  Dogs with allergies from dust, grass, etc., can really benefit from this. Try for a hypo-allergenic shampoo if you can....no dyes, fragrances."  So that response led to a follow up conversation on pH & dogs.  The take  home message from our conversation is that a dogs pH is not the same as a human so use a dog shampoo.

Prepping the dog bath area.  There are a few tools to make giving your dog a bath much easier on him & you.  First is a hair catcher for your tub.  The last thing you want is a bunch of dog hair clogging up your drain.  Next is a non-skid bath mat.  If your dog has a secure place to stand, your bathing will go much smoother. Finally you will want a hand held shower hose with an extra long hose.  Believe me when I tell you without one, it can be quite challenging to give your dog a bath.

Tools for dog bathing.  You will want to have your dogs shampoo & dog conditioner or any other dog bathing products handy & ready to go.  A nice dog drying jacket can come in handy if you are going to air dry, or a pet dryer if you are going to hand dry.  A few absorbent dog towels & one for yourself would be a good idea.  And dont forget the high value dog treats for rewards!   You can read our reviews of dog grooming tools (towels, shampoos etc) here.

Personally I review EWGs Skin Deep Cosmetic Database to check out the ingredients in the products I use for Dexter The Dog.  This gives me an idea about their toxicology & any side effect concerns.

Prepping yourself for your dogs bath.  You arent going to wear good cloths are you?  Make sure you are dressed for movement & you do not care what happens to your cloths, hair, or face.  Sometimes dogs can get pretty silly in the bathtub.  They do make grooming aprons too.

Prepping your dog for his bath.  Before giving  your dog a bath, run a brush through his fur to loosen the hair & remove any tangles.  If you are going to trim your dogs nails now is a good time.  The same for cleaning the inside of your dogs ears.  Place a cotton ball inside each ear (organic cotton balls are available).    Having a good artificial tears gel like Genteal gel is a great idea to protect your dogs eyes.  Remove his collar and/or harness.

The dog bath.  Now is the time.  Youve prepped yourself, your tub & your dog for the dog bath.  When I spoke with professional dog groomer Sheri May Myers on the best way to start bathing your dog, she gave me these tips.  "The wet down and the rinse are most important.  Use warm water, not cold or hose water because this will not rinse well.  Start by wetting the dogs head and work your way down.  When you think your dog is wet, continue wetting more.  Make sure you get the feet, face & privates.  This starts to loosen the dirt.  After the dog is thoroughly wet, shampoo the dog, but leave the head for last.  When rinsing, start with the dogs head to minimize potential shampoo contact with the eyes."

After the dog bath.  You will want to either hand dry your dog with a dog dryer and absorbent dog towel, or let him air dry.  Please keep in mind that dogs do get cold.  If he does air dry, I like using a dog drying jacket to speed up the process.  Once your dog is fully dry always brush thoroughly and of course give your dog a nice high value dog treat for his troubles.

Thats it.  Those are a few tips to make your dogs next bath more enjoyable.  If you have any problems, or are unsure, visit your local dog groomer or pet salon for help.

Check out our dog shampoo, dog towel & dog grooming reviews here.

A big thank you to Sheri at Sheri May Meyers Pet Styling Salon in Holland, Ohio for the use of your grooming tub. -601 S. McCord Rd Holland, OH  43528 419-868-6887 Or 5529 Harroun Rd Sylvania, OH

And thank you to Donna Berggren at Dog Designs By Donna in Charlestown Indiana for your dog grooming tips.

 

Tonya Wilhelm-Global Dog Training http://www.globaldogtraining.com

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How To Train A Dog At Home

If youre looking to properly train your puppy or older dog yourself at home - this website is for you.

Youll find a huge collection of proven dog training information and tips used by professional dog trainers worldwide.

Choose your dog training issue from the list below and learn how to train your dog step-by-step using the very latest dog training techniques - your dog will love you for it.

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WHEN YOU LOSE A PET DETECTION DOG ASPECTS OF HIRING

When you post a lost pet ad on Craigs list, Pet fees, or other lists, you can often contact tries to give advice and to sell their services to the number of persons.

It is difficult to know who is loyal to their offer to help and who simply sell you their service. How can you know, who knows what they are talking about and who is an armchair expert.  It takes a lot of effort on the sales packaging of highly professional-looking language elements.

If someone starts with you, it would be prudent to contact you should be cautious about their family, and skill.  If it sounds too good to be true it probably is.

When I started my dogs certified resources they were lost pets only a handful of people trained dogs in the country.  Even though I had been training and working dogs, one of the first years of the Search I did was take the MPP missing animal response Technician certification course.  My goal was as much about lost pets, their activities and to find and restore them to learn the techniques used.  I started when the missing pet industry we have learned a lot, mostly from people who have lost their Pets and returned successfully, they are on the ground floor.  Also networked with other resources to lose as much as possible in the community of pet animals.  The sum of the parts of the cooperation can be greater than the whole.  We see improvements continuously is the missing pet detection and recovery industry grows and evolves.

There are people who are blessed indeed, experts in people who have rented monitoring trainers sport and blessed than their pet identification groups by the instructors.  Are organizations that promote themselves as a non-profit yet they charge for their services.  (A record profit of human groups charge any SAR on their services.)   Anyone selling himself as the "profit", then the determination of the charging scheme payments before they can help you should question the motives.

Most pets are charged, because their owner and restored to their pets efforts.

The first, which will tell you that My dogs, and is not complete, if you hire us to work for us, success is not guaranteed to be in respect of the fishing effort.  My dogs are still trained and certified by various organizations, at the same time, K9 standards that certify the winks to lose human SAR dogs and working through poliisikoirat.  Several of My dogs are recognized for their contributions to the community, we have several Governors awards.  We have a track record that is available, anyone can view the www.ljtpettracking.com-sivustolla.  Testimonials from customers, we are using.  We can freely share Information through TV and print media presentations.  Only the experience that counts is when a customer calls and tell their pet is safely home, and if we can help with the call of the House instead of a call, we as good as it gets, that ye!

This is the only business where we hope to see you in the good faith was never our services!

View the original article here

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Potty training a puppy

Many owners take potty training a puppy as the most important thing to teach a doggie, so that there is no discomfort around the house. What most people don’t know is that when it comes to potty training a puppy, there are various differences between breeds, some being easier to train than others. So, if you haven’t made up your mind yet about which breed to choose, this aspect really needs to be taken into consideration. How difficult could potty training a puppy be? If you have the answer to this question, then you’re on the great way to a wonderful friendship.
When you’re potty training a puppy, you have to be reasonable with the very young ones. They simply have very little control of their bladders and bowels, so as soon as they realize they have to go, it is almost always too late to hold it. Therefore, potty training a puppy may be a patience exercise for you too, don’t get angry at it, since sometimes it is beyond control. Keep it off your carpets until you’re sure it is reliable. Now, let’s have a look at some basic tips for potty training a puppy. First of all, it is best to train the pup so as it works both indoors and outdoors.
The key to successful potty training a puppy is to take it to potty after every meal; make it a routine to take the pup out first thing in the morning and last thing at night. If you want to apply some general type of potty training for puppies, take the doggie on a leash to the spot you want it to use. After it potties, play with it for a while or offer it a reward so that the pup may grow up with a clear idea of what pleases you or not. Try to feed your puppy on dry food and at the same hour every day, this will give regularity to the animal’s bowel movements too.
Young animals need lots of water, so you may consider that when you’re potty training a puppy. Make sure it has a water bowl at day time, but take it away two hours at least before bedtime. This will allow you the chance of potty training the puppy more efficiently and also saves you the risk of nasty accidents over night. Make sure the spot where it potties is clean all the time, as dogs are very clean animals and they truly want to stay that way. For those of you who don’t feel like potty training a puppy the best solution is to buy an older dog that is trained for the matter.

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A Trip to Chester Zoo

Tuesday night my Fiancé tells me he’s taking me to the zoo in the morning. I LOVE the zoo, so when he surprised me with this I was so excited. I immediately messaged my bestie to fan girl with her over trips to the zoo because I know she loves to see the animals as much as me. So I asked her if she could get the train to Chester and meet us there and enjoy the day with us, I hadn’t seen her in what felt like forever. I wasn’t expecting her to say yes as we were going the next morning, but she did! I was like a kid at Christmas, no word of a lie I had trouble sleeping because I was so eager to get up.

I’ve chosen some pictures I took from the zoo to share with you all. I took nearly 200 photos (oops) so it wasn’t easy picking just a few.

Chester Zoo is the best I have been to so far, it took us hours to walk around and see everything because there was just so many exhibits. So I would really recommend it for a day out with your friends or family.

Can you recommend a zoo? I know I want to visit Edinburugh Zoo at some point (PANDAS!). Drop a comment below and let me know your favourite animals to go and see/places to see them!

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Finding A Decent Commercial Dog Food Part One Ingredients First

The phrase "healthy dog food" means a lot of different things to different people. Dry dog food is by far the most common and easy to use, but also is the most processed, and carbohydrate-heavy dog food you can find. Personally, I home cook a balanced diet for my dog, Dexter. This allows me to truly customize his dietary needs, and he receives a healthy, fresh, preservative-free meal at every feeding. You too can learn how in, Whats For Dinner, Dexter?

Buy Today

Today, I want to help you make the best dog food decision for your dog and your lifestyle. One that makes sense for you. This dog food blog is just meant to shed a little light on how to choose a commercial pet food if thats your choice. I will cover a raw diet, canned dog food, and dry dog food. My food recommendations will provide you with some ideas, and companies to look into, it is by far not a complete list. But, hopefully, my tips, and what to look for will teach you how to read and understand pet food labels.

So, here we go. First up, the ingredient list. This is such a crucial part in determining the actual meat portion of your dogs food. So often, people are swayed by the images of the pet food bag, celebrity endorsements or their friends. But, Im asking you to put those images, and endorsements aside, and flip over the bag and read the ingredient list.

The label. Dogs need meat. Dogs need a good portion of meat. When I home cook Dexters meal, I shoot for 70% meat, 15% fruits and vegetables and 15% healthy grains or beans. If you are reading a pet food label, and looking for a high-quality, meat-rich diet, minimally the first 3-5 ingredients listed should be a named meat source such as salmon, turkey, chicken or beef. This can be followed by a few fruits, veggies, and grains. Remember, a label is listed by weight, so you want your meat up there at the top. If you have a meat source or two, followed by a potato or grain, you are losing your meat.

Learn More

Heres an example taken from Primals Duck Formula: Duck, Duck Necks, Duck Wings, Organic Kale, Duck Hearts, Duck Gizzards, Organic Carrots, Organic Squash, Duck Livers, Organic Broccoli, Organic Apples, Blueberries, Cranberries, Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Organic Sunflower Seeds, Montmorillonite Clay, Organic Parsley, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Salmon Oil, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Quinoa Sprout Powder, Dried Organic Kelp, Alfalfa, Vitamin E Supplement, Mixed Tocopherols (natural preservative).

Heres an example of Merricks Duck Formula: Deboned Duck, Duck Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Potatoes, Pea Protein, Duck Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Natural Flavor, Potato Protein, Organic Alfalfa, Salt, Minerals (Zinc Sulfate, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Potassium Iodide, Cobalt Amino Acid Complex, Sodium Selenite), Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Niacin, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Thiamine Mononitrate), Choline Chloride, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Lactobacillus plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Rosemary Extract.

Can you see how one ingredient list is much heavier in meat? Then take a look at the squash, potato, pea list. Not that any of those items is bad in themselves, but the shear quantity of Merrick vs. Primal. That means there are a lot of carbohydrate foods vs. meat.

Lets look at yet another pet food label. This dog food doesnt even have meat as the first ingredient. There are also lots of potatoes and peas.

Natural Balance Potato and Duck Formula: Potatoes, Duck Meal, Duck, Canola Oil (preserved with natural mixed tocopherols), Potato Protein, Potato Fiber, Natural Flavor, Dicalcium Phosphate, Sodium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Salmon Oil, Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Natural Mixed Tocopherols, L-Carnitine, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Manganese Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Folic Acid

Finally, we can view one of the worst dog foods out there, Beneful. You might be shocked when you read the ingredient list and, unfortunately, there are plenty of other low-quality, dog foods out there, just as bad.

Beneful Original Formula: Ground yellow corn, chicken by-product meal, corn gluten meal, whole wheat flour, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols, rice flour, beef, soy flour, meat and bone meal, propylene glycol, sugar, tricalcium phosphate, salt, phosphoric acid, potassium chloride, animal digest, sorbic acid (a preservative), mono and dicalcium phosphate, dried spinach, dried peas, dried carrots, L-Lysine monohydrochloride, calcium propionate (a preservative), choline chloride, zinc sulfate, Vitamin E supplement, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, Red 40, niacin, Vitamin A supplement, Yellow 6, Yellow 5, copper sulfate, Vitamin B-12 supplement, calcium pantothenate, Blue 2, thiamine mononitrate, garlic oil, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), folic acid, biotin, sodium selenite.

I honestly want to cry when I read that list. Some of those ingredients are not only unhealthy, but actually toxic! Look a few up for yourself. You can start with propylene glycol. Beef is the only real meat in there, and that is so far down the list. I highlighted animal, meat and bone because they are not named items. Meaning, animal, meat or bone is very likely your neighborhood dog that was euthenized! Yes, that is a true statement.

Here are 10 ingredients that are never in any of Dexters food or treats.

1. Flavors of any kind, natural or artificial- No artificial or natural "flavors" of any kind.  If it says "flavor" in the ingredient list, back on the shelf it goes.  Its not real food guys.  And if its not a real food ingredient, it  has no place in my dogs treat, or dog food.
2. Added salt, regular or sea salt- Nope, no reason to add salt in my dogs treat.  Every living creature needs sodium in their diet, but too much can cause problems such as seizures, diarrhea & extra water intake.  A lot of foods have natural occurring sodium, so you do not need extra salt added to treats.
3. Sugar or any kind including high corn fructose, corn syrup or cane sugar- I shouldnt need to tell you this.  If we add sugar or high corn fructose we are truly just adding empty calories.  Not only are these ingredients bad for our dogs health, they will also hop them up & they can become hyperactive. 
4. Sorbitol-A sugar commonly found in berries, but prepared synthetically.
5. By-products or digest- Ewww  I want to make sure my dog receives healthy food not what is left on the floor of some meat manufacturing plant.  Or carcasses from veterinarian practices!  Scary, isnt it?  Again, I want to know what is in that bag of treats.
6. Coloring, artificial or natural- Why?  Why would a pet treat manufacture put dye or coloring in my dogs treat?  To please the consumers eyes of course.  Especially when we are talking about artificial food coloring.  Artificial anything is a chemical process & has a long list of possible side effects.  And dont be fooled by "natural food coloring".  Natural can be made by things like bugs & rocks!
7. Animal fat or anything "animal" "meat"- What kind of animal or meat?  Again, what the heck is in there anyway?  When I read it, I should have a very clear picture of what it is.
8. Chemical Preservatives - Chemical preservatives of any kind should be avoided.  Healthy does not equate to chemicals.  No BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene), BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole), Ethoxyquin, TBHQ (tertiary butylhydroquinone), Propyl Gallate, Propylene glycol, Sodium Nitrite.  BHA, BHT & Ethoxyquin  are banned in human foods.
9. Corn, wheat or soy-A lot of our dog friends are allergic, or have a low tolerance to these ingredients.  According to PetCareRX, that excessive soy may contain estrogen that might provide some estrogen-like activity in your dog & contribute to slightly lower thyroid hormone levels.
10. Glycerin, vegetable glycerin or glycerole-Glycerin or glycerole can actually be produced as a by product of diesel fuel!  It will be unlikely you will know the difference from reading the ingredient list (although vegetable glycerin is plant based, not from fuel).  This is an ingredient in dog treats that helps make a treat soft & sugary.  It is not uncommon for dogs to get a big case of diarrhea from eating treats with this product.  Dexter is one of them.

Food for thought, for sure. Stay tuned for my next installment, which will cover the processing of dog food. Dont miss out, sign up for my newsletter and follow me on Facebook.

Do you need extra dog training help?  I offer in-person,  phone consultations, weekend dog retreats and public seminars.  Contact me today for details.

Tonya Wilhelm-Global Dog Training http://www.globaldogtraining.com

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Have a fantastic weekend!

So I have a new addition to this dog training blog

 

 and that would be an awesome new camera for pictures and even videos!

 

Once I become a little more well rounded with how to work this thing maybe I will start
doggy photo shoots!

 

Until then the best thing will be clearer instruction pictures for you all to follow

 

Then everyone will be able to train their dogs like a pro!

 

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

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What is a Healthy Dog Treat

You may have found our website by searching for "healthy dog treats".  But what does that phrase even mean?  Im sure a lot of people have a lot of strong opinions on the subject of healthy dog treats.  So, I will just give you my thoughts and what I consider when feeding Dexter The Dog his dog treats.  I wont review any particular dog treats on this page, but you can visit our dog treat reviews, dog chew bone reviews, dog food and dog mix reviews here and even how to stuff a hollow dog chew.

The very first thing I do when choosing a healthy dog treat for Dexter is look at the ingredients.  Yes, the actual ingredient list, not just the photos on the front of the package which can actually be very deceiving.  Even the "flavor" can be deceiving.  You might be surprised to learn that sometimes when a dog treat says "chicken flavor" they truly mean chicken flavor, and not any real chicken!  So that leads to my first No ingredient.





My top 10 ingredients that should NOT be in dog treats:

1. Flavors of any kind, natural or artificial- No artificial or natural "flavors" of any kind.  If it says "flavor" in the ingredient list, back on the shelf it goes.  Its not real food guys.  And if its not a real food ingredient, it  has no place in my dogs treat, or dog food.
2. Added salt, regular or sea salt- Nope, no reason to add salt in my dogs treat.  Every living creature needs sodium in their diet, but too much can cause problems such as seizures, diarrhea & extra water intake.  A lot of foods have natural occurring sodium, so you do not need extra salt added to treats.
3. Sugar or any kind including high corn fructose, corn syrup or cane sugar- I shouldnt need to tell you this.  If we add sugar or high corn fructose we are truly just adding empty calories.  Not only are these ingredients bad for our dogs health, they will also hop them up & they can become hyperactive. 
4. Sorbitol-A sugar commonly found in berries, but prepared synthetically.
5. By-products or digest- Ewww  I want to make sure my dog receives healthy food not what is left on the floor of some meat manufacturing plant.  Or carcasses from veterinarian practices!  Scary, isnt it?  Again, I want to know what is in that bag of treats.
6. Coloring, artificial or natural- Why?  Why would a pet treat manufacturer put dye or coloring in my dogs treat?  To please the consumers eyes of course.  Especially when we are talking about artificial food coloring.  Artificial anything is a chemical process & has a long list of possible side effects.  And dont be fooled by "natural food coloring".  Natural can be made by things like bugs & rocks!
7. Animal fat or anything "animal" "meat"- What kind of animal or meat?  Again, what the heck is in there anyway?  When I read it, I should have a very clear picture of what it is.
8. Chemical Preservatives - Chemical preservatives of any kind should be avoided.  Healthy does not equate to chemicals.  No BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene), BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole), Ethoxyquin, TBHQ (tertiary butylhydroquinone), Propyl Gallate, Propylene glycol, Sodium Nitrite.  BHA, BHT & Ethoxyquin  are banned in human foods.
9. Corn, wheat or soy-A lot of our dog friends are allergic or have a low tolerance to these ingredients.  According to PetCareRX, that excessive soy may contain estrogen that might provide some estrogen-like activity in your dog & contribute to slightly lower thyroid hormone levels.
10. Glycerin, vegetable glycerin or glycerole-Glycerin or glycerole can actually be produced as a by-product of diesel fuel!  It will be unlikely you will know the difference from reading the ingredient list (although vegetable glycerin is plant based, not from fuel).  This is an ingredient in dog treats that helps make a treat soft & sugary.  It is not uncommon for dogs to get a big case of diarrhea from eating treats with this product.  Dexter is one of them.

So what does that leave us?  Well, a lot of things really.  When Dexter gets something to eat, whether organic or wild caught in countries or bodies of water that are known to be clean & environmentally friendly.  No China of course.  So that leads to sourcing of the ingredients.  Read the article on Organic Dog Food to understand a bit more about organic & labeling.

its his dog food or dog treats I want it to be real food.  Things that I can find in real life, not something that is synthetically made, or a by-product of something else.  I personally prefer ingredients that are

After I look at the ingredient list of Dexters potential healthy dog treats, the next thing I want to know is where were the INGREDIENTS SOURCED.  "Made in the USA" only means that the treat was put together in The States, not that the ingredients came from the US.  So, sometimes you have to do a little digging to find this out.  Most dog treat manufacturers that use only US or another safe country (there are other countries with better food regulations than us in the US) for their ingredients will proudly state that either on the bag or on their website.  If not, some digging & contacting may be in order.

Once all this checks out, the next thing I have to decide is what is the purpose of the new healthy dog treat.  Meaning, if Im going to do a lot of dog training using the treat, I want it to be pretty much a single source food item (100% cod, beef, etc).  This allows a few things to occur.  One, the treat will likely have a high-value & keep Dexters attention on me around various distractions.  Two, there wont be "extra stuff" in the treat, so I can actually count the treat (remember, its really meat) as part of his daily calories.

If on the other hand Im just going to have these  healthy treats in our treat cupboard for random snacks I do not mind if the treat has other ingredients besides or instead of meat.  As long as they dont need to keep a high-value & they are not getting dished out like I do when Im training a new behavior.  Even though these treats are "healthy" I still consider them like candy bars.  A little goes a long way.

So there you have it.  This is my starting point when determining if a dog treat is truly healthy for Dexter.  I do buy healthy & organic dog treats for Dexter, but I also make homemade dog treats too!   You can download 5 free dog treat recipes here to give it a whirl.  I hope you enjoyed this post & thank you for taking your dogs health seriously.

Tonya Wilhelm-Global Dog Training http://www.globaldogtraining.com

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GrindinGearz 6 hour What a cracka!

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What a cracka! 


The course was... awesome, fun, scenic, tough, rewarding, climbing, flowing, fast, leg busting, fun, fun, fun...!!!

Some head-down pedalling
(photos https://www.facebook.com/grindingearz)

One of the features to a good race is the attitudes of the organisers and volunteers they recruit. 

Without a doubt, the super attitudes from the course marshalls, to the dudes keeping the HOT showers and toilets really clean all weekend were outstanding!

The camping/track-side area was flat, plentiful & very easily accessed. The raging camp fires are always a very welcome, toe warming, beer drinking, social aspect to an event like this.

Lots of this... (single track bliss)
(photos https://www.facebook.com/grindingearz)

I was very impressed with Andy Fellows victory speech. Andy shared his thoughts about the race and the people that organised it and the people that rode it. Nice work Andy.

The Mount Perry, 6 Hour, Gold Rush, is one very classy event!

Around to the right, then the left, again and again!
(photos https://www.facebook.com/grindingearz)

Three things standout most in my mind during the race:

1. Jay Taylor. A very respectable 2nd to Andy Fellows in the elite mens, coming past me asking how the final lap timings work and if "redbull is good to have on the final lap" My response, "pedal till they say stop and anything that has sugar is perfect for your last lap!"

This was fun after the awesome switch back descent
(photos https://www.facebook.com/grindingearz)

2. All of the very nice congratulations I received from nearly every rider I came across on the trails. Some I knew, some I didnt. T H A N K Y O U. I was very suprised and as I responded each time, sincerley, it means a lot!!!

Lots of beautiful scenery.
(photos https://www.facebook.com/grindingearz)

3. The most outstanding memory is all of the awesome and gutsy efforts I saw on the trails. Being a solo only event there was no place to hide for anyone. I was greatly motivated by the all of the riders I came across on the trails that were quite simply putting their heart into their legs converting it into kms. Freekin awesome!!! If I came passed you on my SS and gave you a pat on the back and told you how well you were riding I sincerly meant it.

Thanks GrindinGearz for putting it on.

It wasnt just the awesome single track that was rewarding.
(photos https://www.facebook.com/grindingearz)

Until next time: Put your heart into your legs and convert it into kms on the track.

dog

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When To Use a Harness to Walk Your Dog

Image Credit

I wrote a new Bubblews post today on When To Use a Harness to Walk Your Dog. I get a lot of people that are confused about harnesses and what they are actually for, so I thought I would share this with everyone!

Read it HERE

Amy @ Talented K9 Dog Training
talentedk9dogtraining@gmail.com
Talented K9 Website
Facebook Page
YouTube Channel

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Tuesday Tip Day Naming a cue!

There are many different cues to teach your dog, names and/or hand signals for each individual cue are important!

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Q1: What is this trick called?

We all know the basic commands and their names, sit, stay, come, off, etc. but when you start teaching a dog more complex cues it can become harder to think of a name for each command, especially one simplistic enough for your dog to know what you are saying (one word cues). I find myself constantly thinking "what exactly should I name this cue I just taught because I honestly have no idea what this new trick is called". The great thing about more advanced training is that you dont technically need to use a word for a cue each time, it can be just a hand signal or even a body movement. I usually teach using both words (which forces me to come up with a name for a cue) and hand signals then switch between using just a word and just a hand signal to be sure my dog is comprehending the cue by both word and hand movement separately.

When you get into advanced obedience with your dog, as in competitions or CGC type certificates, they prefer if you use just words or just hand signals and that is another good reason to either train both making sure to practice on them separately or just stick to one.

You can also use a different language for your cues! A lot of k-9s respond to German cues or other languages so that only the handler is certain to have full control over their dog.

Use whatever cue names or hand signals that you want and will remember and stick to them!

Q2: What is this trick called?

example: If you have taught your dog to beg using the word "beg" stick to that word and dont change it half way through your training session to "sit pretty", this can confuse your dog and may end up taking longer for your dog to comprehend what you are asking of him.

With deaf dogs things are obviously a little more complicated and hand signals are going to be your best bet for training just as blind dogs would be better to train using words. Let me add that deaf or blind dogs are definitely not impossible to train and shouldnt be treated any differently than any other dog!
I will have to do a whole separate post about training deaf and blind dogs just because they are so unique and intriguing to train!

Here is the key thing to remember! When you name a cue make sure you only use one word for that cue!
????Example: When a dog is jumping on you what do you say? Well a lot of people I know, or have hear, have the habit of telling the dog "down". If you are asking "well, whats wrong with that"? then this is for you. To me, "down" means "lay down". "Down" is the word that sticks out in this phrase so when I am teaching "down" as a cue I simply use "down" for lay down. If you were to say "down" as a command for "lay down" and "down" as in "get off me" it can be quite confusing to the dog. Im sure the thought is something like "why are you asking me to lay down I just want to see your face and greet you and love you". This is why I use a completely separate word making training different cues a breeze and less confusing!
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Q3: Why is Rusty on a table?

"Off" is the word I use for that obnoxious jumping, not only is it a good cue for "get off me"!, but its also good for "get off the couch", "get off the bed", "get off the table" and others like that! The word "off" works for all these things because you are asking the same thing in each scenario, when you successfully teach this cue "off" will let your dog know that he needs to get himself or his paws off of whatever theyre on.

If you have kids make sure you are using a cue for your dog that you dont use for your kid, sounds silly but we actually do give our kids "cues" the same as we give our dogs, right?. "Get lay down" "sit", you know, those type of "cues". Well "no" is a good example. For dogs, I use "no" to mark a behavior I didnt ask for while training, for example if I were to say "down" and my dog simply sat still I would say "no" turn around for a few seconds and restart the behavior. For my son, I use to constantly tell him "no" but since he is older and comprehends more I usually use phrases like "stop doing insert obnoxious behavior" or "dont do insert equally obnoxious behavior" to keep the word "no" less confusing for both kids and dogs. Im sure many other parents can relate. If I were to just say "no" in a stern voice to my children and my dogs were around they may not know the difference and that can create a few problems. If they think that the cue was aimed towards them it could cause them to be afraid or feel as if they are in trouble! So first I would like to say that you should try to keep as even of a temper as you can around your children and dogs (in all seriousness as a mom I know how hard this can be but it is possible!). You can also teach your dogs to know when you are talking to your kids vs. talking to them, using the dogs name before a command is an excellent start. I will be making a children & dog blog soon for more information on training around your children and also how to "train" your children how to act around dogs!

Hope you learned something useful from todays Tuesday Tip!

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Walking Nicely On A Leash

I hear you!  We all dream about it when we bring our dogs home.  Taking them on daily adventures to the park, fairs & just a walk around the neighborhood.  But the dreaded walking nicely on a leash...It takes time, so please be ready for some patience on this one!

I will write an upcoming article all about it, I promise.  In the meantime, please watch Dexter at the park today walking on his leash.  Inspiration that it can happen & you can do it all by using positive training techniques & lots of fun.  :)

Walking a dog on leash

Tonya Wilhelm-Global Dog Training http://www.globaldogtraining.com

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