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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Insurance For Pets

People often ask me if they should get insurance for their pets.  After I say, "Yes" the questions continue with what is the top dog insurance company, should I buy pet insurance for my puppy, what about pet insurance for multiple dogs?

I am going to try to help guide you to find out what will be the best dog insurance for your dog.  Ok, Im going to try to help you know what to look for & consider when purchasing pet insurance.  This will not be a pet insurance review.  Each family is different in their needs & each dog & dog breed varies with their medical care & hereditary & congenital conditions. 

The coverage I look for when choosing a pet insurance plan for Dexter The Dog: 

• hereditary & congenital conditions 

  

  More Info

• veterinary exam fees
• diagnostic treatments
• surgery
• medications
• imaging
• cancer treatments
• rehab
• alternative treatments
• specialists

After insuring the pet insurance company offered these things, then I needed to find out their limits for each condition & the deductible and the monthly premium.  I ended up with Petplan USA and I have been more than satisfied.  We have the Bronze plan & pay about $35/month.  Paperwork is a breeze & customer support is amazing & they always return my inquiries (I email) that day.   

Some other US Pet Insurers include  Petplan USA, Healthy Paws, Embrace, Trupanion, Pets Best, ASPCA, VPI, Petfirst Healthcare, AKC....so you can see there is a big list to wade through.  I suggest taking your time & reading the benefits carefully & the limits.  If you decide to go with  Petplan USA, please click the link & use promo code:  AFF00132 for a 10% discount!  If you have any problems, please let me know prior to enrolling.  :)

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

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Introducing Mini Lessons For those of you in or around Tracy CA

I would like to introduce two new changes to Dog Training with Alysia!

First off, I would like to announce Dog Training with Alysia is officially part of the Tracy Chamber of Commerce!
(*insert clap*) Thank you, Thank you! Im very excited to have my business officially involved in the city of Tracy.

Secondly, I would like to introduce mini lessons!

I realize that a lot of clients, or people who show interest in dog training, have been afraid to commit to a full basic obedience course, mostly because they are about a 5-6 week course and shaping your schedule to fit something of this longevity into can be quite difficult sometimes and I completely understand that! I always recommend basic obedience courses as I feel they are, by far, the best way to train your dog to understand all the cues that will set them up for a successful happy life so if you indeed have the time for them and would like to sign up for them please do!
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Before all of my normal training courses begin I hold a private or group introductory lesson explaining in detail my training ideals and then give homework on two very important cues to set you up for your first actual class and that is pretty much the extent of that introductory lesson with me.

I started thinking of ways I could make a training course seem less demanding so I thought why not just build a lesson more informative than my introduction and use that as a way to help people who want to learn but do not want the commitment of a 5-6 week course!

Rusty performing a "down stay"

Lets be honest, I personally learn way better when I have someone in front of me showing me how to do things! I can sit here and type all day but reading and understanding what I have to say and want to show everyone can be quite difficult so if you learn better by face to face interaction and lessons then these are perfect for you!

At the end of each lesson you will be able to get some questions in for me to answer so that every course is personalized for you and what you want to learn from them!

I have four main lessons right now that I will give a brief description for
??????????1. Introduction to training & Basic cues - This course will talk about everything you need to know to be successful with training. I will talk about motivators, food lures, marker cues and more! I will show examples with your dog or mine (depending on where this lesson is held) of how to teach some valuable cues, how often to teach them etc. BUT, then it will be up to you to train your dog with the information given!
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This isnt a basic cue by the way ;)

2. Problem behaviors & how to read a dogs body posture - This course explains where problem behaviors come from & how to prevent them. Ive included reading dogs body posture in this because dogs speak using their whole body and expressions so that is why this is so important to know and it is also a way to have an idea what your dog is actually thinking. I cannot even count the times Ive seen owners get so worked up over two dogs introducing themselves at the dog park and almost creating a bad situation simply by acting up while I just stand back and think of how perfectly normal and social those two dogs are. I will help you with any problem behavior advice you need during my ask the trainer question section.
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 Closest pic of a problem behavior I could find! Tearing apart toys ;)

????3. Foster Family Dogs - This may sound redundant but there are a lot of things foster families may not think about while housing their temporary dog. During this course I will teach some basic cues and the do and do nots of training your foster dog! If you dont already know I am actually certified in training shelter dogs so part of my training involved how to transition your dog into their new home. This can include foster homes, however, with foster homes it is a little different so Ive adapted this training lesson to help you out! Also some shelter dogs can gain "bad habits" so we will go over problem behaviors as well during this course!
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This is Amy our Foster dog who is currently learning
basic obedience during her stay!

 
4. Dogs & Kids - How to teach your kids to properly interact with the family dogs & strangers dogs. I will also teach you how you can read your dogs body posture to watch for warning signs that your dog is feeling uncomfortable in the situation and how you can give your dog some space during the day.

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This would be my mini dog trainer teaching my dogs how to
lay before receiving their reward!

Other lessons that are in the process of being laid out are more for fun and will involve trick training and sports!

 If you have something specific for me to help you out with then I would be more than willing to write out a layout specifically for you or mix up any two of the mini lessons and give information on each!

 

 My goal is to just help everyone have more insight to dogs & training at an affordable cost.

 

Let me tell you the best part!

 

My current price for these lessons are a flat $30 dollars plus tax and gas if youre outside of Tracy!

You can invite as many people as you want to these lessons and if you would like to hold them as a fundraiser you are more than welcome to charge "x" amount per person as long as all the profits go to a non-profit of your choosing!

 

So schedule your mini lesson so I can help give you some valuable information without the commitment of a training course!

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5 Helpuful Uses For Teaching Your Dog Place

I wrote a Bubblews post the other day on 5 Helpful Uses for Teaching Your Dog Place. I wanted to share it with you guys! Place can be an extremely handy thing for your dog to know and is so easy to teach. In the picture, you see our dogs; Crash (Weimaraner) and Blackjack (Black Dog) on place at the lake! A nice way to keep your dog out of trouble.

Take a look at our Bubblews post; 5 Helpful Uses for Teaching Your Dog Place

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

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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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Arthritis Skin and Heart Supplements For Dogs

Do you have a dog who is scratching a lot?  Or maybe your dog has dry, flaky skin.  Of course, the first thing I would suggest is to get an appointment with your veterinarian, veterinarian dermatologist or veterinary food therapist and possibly a dog behavior counselor. You will want to ensure that you are addressing the root of the problem which can be medical and/or behavioral.  Once you have a good diagnosis, your treatment plan can take place.

    

One additive to consider when trying to cure your dogs flaky skin is a fatty acid supplement or fish

oil.  Omega-3s are important in your dogs overall health & skin & coat condition.  They also help reduce inflammation, arthritis & inflammatory bowel disease & are typically recommended for heart issues.  But you need to be careful to ensure a quality product that has the right ratio of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).

With the guidance and recommendation of our veterinary food therapist, we use Vetoquinol AllerG-3 Supplement in the pump form (they also make capsules).  We use our omega-3s to keep Dexters skin & coat healthy & shiny.   AllerG-3 is made of fish oil in the triglyceride (TG), or natural form.  According to their website, "AllerG-3 products contain the only fish oil to achieve USP ingredient verification. USP uses rigorous standards to evaluate manufacturing and quality control systems and test ingredient samples for compliance with identity, strength, quality and purity claims as well as acceptable contaminant limits."

Since Vetoquinol AllerG-3 Supplement is safe for most dogs, my veterinarian & I felt it was a safe & healthy way to work on preventing dry skin, inflammation, arthritis & help keep a healthy heart.
If you have a dog breed who is prone to arthritis or heart issues, Labrador retrievers, German shepherd dogs, golden retrievers &, of course, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels come to mind, you might what to ask your veterinarian about Vetoquinol AllerG-3 Supplement.

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

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5 Tips For Getting Through Depression

Life doesn’t always play fair. I’ve had  my fair share of rough times and this month was no exception. But it never stays bad, whether youre going through depression, anxiety, stress etc. Sometimes we just need a little reminder that things are going to be ok. We’re getting close to that time of year when a lot of us can feel stuck in a funk. So I wanted to share with you some of my tips for getting through a rough spell.

1. Communicate

Speaking to others can help a lot more than you think. Talking to others about our problems isn’t easy, and if anybody tells you otherwise they’re lying. Sometimes it’s pride that gets in our way, we’re embarrassed to be seen struggling. Sometimes it’s fear of not being understood.  Whatever is holding you back, don’t let it anymore. Speaking to someone, getting all of those thoughts that are whirling around in your head out into the open can really help relieve some of the stress. It’s comforting to confide in those we are close to. A good friend won’t judge you whatever you’re going through right now.

2. Treat Yourself

Take some time out, even if it’s one night on the weekend. Take a warm bath with a Lush bath bomb, watch your favourite movie/tv series, get your hair done, paint your nails, stuff your face full of chocolate or go see a movie with your friends. Take some time to do whatever it is that personally makes you feel better.

3. Self Care

We live in a world where our personal needs can easily be pushed to the wayside. Are you looking after yourself? I know this question can often come across as patronising. But it is anything but, when we’re stressed or down we often slack on our basic needs. Try to make sure you are eating enough and regularly. And make sure you are getting enough sleep, it is amazing how much better a decent nights sleep can make us feel. It won’t fix your problems but being tired won’t help either.

4. Avoid Toxic People

This is hard. It’s especially hard if those people are family members. Toxic people aren’t always that obvious to us. I look back at some of my friendships and I think wow... why did I stick around for that! You don’t need people around you who are negative, bitchy, jealous, pessimistic etc at the best of times. So you sure don’t need them at your worst. If you can’t remove them completely, spend less time around them. Gravitate towards people who cheer you on and are a positive influence in your life. And thank me later.

5. Don’t Bully Yourself

And by this I mean stop beating yourself up over things. This is particularly hard if you are competitive or a perfectionist. But seriously there are enough mean people in this world who are more than happy to tear people down. Don’t be your own worst enemy. 

You are doing the best you can. You WILL get through this. And I promise it does get better.

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Summer Time Safety For Your Dog

The sun is shining, the grass is green, and the sweat starts to drip from our brow.  Please remember that your dog gets hot too.  But, your dog can not tell you when he has had too much.  As a responsible dog parent, it is your responsibility to keep your dog cool and comfortable during the summer months, ok ALL the time.  Heatstroke can happen in a blink of an eye.

Heatstroke in dogs is serious, and can become deadly very quickly. Never leave your dog unattended in a closed vehicle, or unattended outside in humid, or warmer weather.  Unventilated rooms such as garages or barns can also be risky. Make sure your dog always has access to fresh, cool water and shade.  Avoid walking on asphalt on extremely hot days. 

Some dogs are more susceptible to heatstroke. Short-nosed, flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds are at a higher risk because their airway cannot function properly to cool themselves down quickly enough.  Any dog who has difficulty breathing either due to being overweight, having a heart or lung condition or collapsing trachea are at a higher risk for heatstroke.  Other risk factors are dogs who have not had previous experience with high heat and humidity, or dogs with thick coats, thyroid disease, or any other serious illness.

Signs of heatstroke can include panting, drooling, rapid pulse, restlessness, loss of balance and fever.  If this happens, immediately run cool or lukewarm, not cold, water over your dog, particularly in areas where there is good blood flow, like the head, armpits, and groin. Afterwards, go to your veterinarian, or emergency vet clinic.  Heatstroke can lead to organ dysfunction and death, so it is an emergency. 

Here are some tips from veterinarian Judy Morgan.

But dont let the heat get you down.  There are plenty of summer fun activities that you can do with your dog, and products that can assist in keeping your dog comfortable in the summer heat.

1. Avoid the hottest part of the day
2. Avoid hot pavement
3. Dont overdo it, short outings, more often
4.  Incorporate cooling products such as a cooling jacket, cooling bandana, cooling mat, umbrella, dog stroller, covered wagon and dog boots
5. Keep the sunscreen on both you and your dogs nose, and skin if he is hairless
6. Have plenty of cool water, shade, and breaks
7.  Play games in and around a baby pool so your dog can go in and out
8. Take calming walks around waterfronts such as beaches and lakes
9. Play with the sprinkler
10. Play with ice cubes, or frozen treat toys
11. Strenuous exercise INDOORS, not outside

Here are some more tips from me on ways to keep your dog cool.

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

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Classes For 2010

Classes For 2010-Here at Toledo Dog Training, we take pride in bringing you fun & innovative classes. This philosophy can be seen in our class choices. We have added such classes as therapy dog, agility foundation, targeting classes, rally,polite greeting, really reliable recalls, and much much more! You will just have to take a peek at our class agenda to find out more, but here is a peek of the upcoming classes!

Remember-Quality Instruction + Small Class Size = Classes Fill Quickly!!
Puppy Classes: Off-Leash Play, Puppy Management, Proper Socialization, Leadership Skills, Potty Training, Puppy Care, Crate Training, Manners, Mouthing, Jumping, Relationship Building, Confidence Building, Motivation, Preventing Separation Anxiety, Reading & understanding your puppys body language.



Beginner Dog Training: A starter class for dogs & their families or for puppies that are still learning & proofing their basics. This class is for dogs that have not had a previous dog training class, needs a fresh start, needs to improve their skills around distractions or is coming from puppy class.



Level Assessment: If you & your dog have attended classes elsewhere, you must first sign up for a Level Assessment to find out which class you are eligible to attend. Or, you may enroll in one of the Beginner dog training classes.



Intermediate Dog Training-Learn how to advance & work around distractions with your dog.


Tricks Class-Learn how to teach your dog a variety of tricks & games using the clicker. This class is a prerequisite for our Agility Foundation class.
Tue 7:30pm 1-19, 1-26, 2-2, 2-9,2-16, 2-23-Holland


Therapy Dog Class-Our unique Therapy Dog Skills Training course prepares both the dog & owner/handler to take the PetPartner evaluation through Delta Society!


Rally-Obedience-Rally obedience is a dog sport based on obedience. Unlike traditional obedience, handlers are allowed to encourage their dogs during the course.
Rally 1


Agility Foundation-Build your dogs confidence and your bond by teaching them the correct way to run agility, navigate the obstacles safely and fast, all in a positive way.


Can I take more than one class at a time? Absolutely! This is a question I am often asked from students who want to enroll in more than one intermediate class. As long as you & your dog meet the prerequisites for the class, you can join both! For example, if in January you would like to take the Intermediate Dog Training and Tricks Class go for it!


****Taking more than one class in the same night depends on both you & your dogs energy level. If at the end of one class your dog seems wiped out, then taking more than one class a night would not be a good choice. If however, you and your dog are still ready to go, by all means, take two. :)

Private Behavioral Training-If you are experiencing behavioral problems (excessive barking, separation anxiety,leadership struggles etc.) with your dog, behavior modification is required. This can be accomplished with private behavioral training.

Private lessons fill very quickly (filling for January already!), so dont delay, contact Toledo Dog Training now to get started!

Getting Started with Private Dog Training-How It Works
Dog Training Consultation & Lessons
Puppy Head Start(under 6 months)
New Dog Head Start (with owner less than 3 months)

Dog & Puppy Socialization-Just because winter is here, does not mean you should be spending less quality time with your dog! This is a perfect time to sign up for Toledo Dog Trainings Puppy & Dog Walking Group! Its a wonderful opportunity for puppies under a year old to play and romp with other puppies indoors. You will also have to opportunity to meet other dog owners at local parks for dog walks. Weekend puppy dates will be added in 2010! To join, please visit http://www.toledopuppygroup.com/

Past Events: On November 14th we had a great turn out for our Fall Event! Everything just fell into place with great weather, a fantastic turn out & lots of fun for the entire family! Thank you all that had the opportunity to join us. We will try to schedule 3-4 events through out the year.

PREPARING FOR YOUR NEW DOG-You are embarking on a wonderful new adventure for both you and your canine friend. Preparing for your new dog’s arrival before bringing him home is preferred. This way you will have everything you need, and won’t need to rush out to the store at the last minute.

Some things you will want to have ready for your canine companion:
1. Crate & Bedding
2. Safe Toys (Kongs,™ Nylabones™)
3. Dog Food, Food Dishes & Treats
4. Leash & Collar
5. Grooming Supplies, brush, toothbrush & dog toothpaste, dog nail clippers
6. “Puppy-Proof” your home from poisons, sharp objects, small items, tempting food & electrical cords
7. Remove any valuable items that your dog could break or ruin. A tail can easily knock over items on a coffee table.
8. Decide on who will be responsible for each of the daily tasks involved with owning a dog. This should be a joint effort between all of the family members.
9. Interview & choose a veterinarian, dog trainer, pet sitter or boarding facility.
10. ENJOY YOUR NEW ADVENTURE!

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

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CHOOSING A SIZE OF CRATE FOR YOUR DOG

Puppies should have just enough room to turn around and lie down - if the crate is too roomy, the puppy may eliminate at one end and live at the other.
Because most budgets cant afford to get a crate every time the pup grows larger, you should get an appropriate size for an adult and make it smaller with a divider (some crate manufactures make one, or you can use a piece of plywood, etc cut to size & wired in) - making sure your modifications are completely safe for the pup. Adult dogs should at least have enough room to stand up straight and somewhat stretch out when they lay down.

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Dental Care For Dogs

Do you think about your dogs dental care?  I sure hope the answer to that question is a big fat, "YES!"  According to The American Veterinary Dental College, periodontal disease is the most common clinical condition occurring in adult dogs & by three years of age, most dogs have some evidence of periodontal disease.  The toxins are absorbed into your dogs blood stream & can affect the kidneys and liver.  The kicker, it is easily preventable in most cases!

Your dogs first line of defense to prevent periodontal disease is you.  You can develop a home oral hygiene regimen for your dog to help combat this disease.  You should start this preventative routine as soon as you bring your new puppy or dog home.  So let us now take a look at some of  your options.

1. Brushing Your Dogs Teeth-Brushing your dogs teeth daily with a dog toothbrush / finger pet toothbrush & dog toothpaste / oral cleansing gel is one of the most effective ways to help prevent periodontal disease in your dog.  Out of all the recommendations, this is a must do!  Brushing your dogs teeth daily helps break up dog tarter & keep your dogs teeth pearly white.  It is important to use a tooth paste specifically designed for dogs.  Human toothpaste typically has high foaming action which should not be swallowed.
1. With the guidance of Dexters veterinarian, we do a rotating schedule using Biotene Maintenance Gel & tooth brushing & MaxiGuard Oral Cleansing Gel.  Dexter prefers the finger pet toothbrush over the regular dog toothbrush, plus I can feel exactly where Im cleaning.
2. Chews & Bones-Your dogs chewing action on safe & healthy dog chews and bones can assist in removing plaque build up.  However, please read the ingredients listed to ensure they are healthy & NOT sourced in China.  My personal favorite for Dexter are odor free bully sticks.  Personally, I do not allow unsupervised chewing. 
3. Dog Chew Toys-When I think of dog chew toys, I think of Kong, Nylabone, Rita Toy & Kong Quest Bones.  These chew toys can be filled with your favorite healthy dog treat, organic dog food, or just played alone.  Ive been known to squirt a little dog toothpaste on a dog chew for a bit more cleaning action.   Again, this is another way to help loosen tarter build up.
4. Veterinarian Dentistry-Sometimes even with the best preventative dental care, dogs still must have a dental cleaning from their veterinarian.  But dont feel bad, this is a nice way to get back those pearly whites.

Getting started with brushing your dogs teeth does not have to be a stressful event.  Take it slow & introduce the procedure at your dogs pace.  If your dog is sensitive around his mouth, he may already have some periodontal disease, so please take him to your veterinarian for a check up.

• You never want to scare your dog, so if he really moves away when you try to touch his mouth, start by reaching towards his face (off to the side) and say, "Yes!" and give him a treat.  At first dont have the goal of touching  his mouth, you just want him to get comfortable with the reach.  If he moves away & tries to avoid the reach, dont reach as fast, as close.  You want to find that sweet spot, where he is unconcerned & build from there.  This may take days, or even weeks.  So have patience & dont rush it.  If you are having difficulty please seek the guidance of a professional dog behavior consultant.
• If  you are building up your dogs confidence in touching his mouth, this is an exceptional time to use the MaxiGuard Oral Cleansing Gel, since scrubbing is not required.
• Once you are able to touch your dogs mouth without him flinching or being worried, it is time to add the dog toothpaste.  First, put a squeeze of the paste on your finger & slip it into one side of his mouth.  No rubbing, no scrubbing.  Do the same for the other side.  Thats it, end of lesson.  Practice this for a few days.  When he is easily accepting of this, the next time put your finger pet toothbrush on & the dog toothpaste, and once again slip into both sides of  his mouth.
• As you both get more comfortable start to increase the scrubbing action inside your dogs mouth.  Gentle, dont get too rough or hard.  Your goal will be to hit all those canine teeth with a little scrub.
• If you decide you would rather use a dog toothbrush instead of the finger pet toothbrush do the same steps in getting your dog accustomed to the brush inside his mouth that you did for the finger brush.

 Thats it!  You should be well on your way to helping your dog have fresh breath, a great smile & healthy teeth and gums.

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

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Whats For Dinner Dexter

Order Today

Today I was remembering how Whats For Dinner, Dexter? all began.  As long as Ive been an adult with dogs Ive wanted to home cook for them.  I knew it would be the healthiest option, but I was so afraid I would do something wrong, and not provide them with the nutrients they needed, or not balance their diet properly.  A very valid concern (please dont home cook for your pets until you learn how).

As a puppy, Dexter always had "toppers" on his premium dog food (sorry, thats a terrible word because all processed, dry food is pretty crappy).  I added things like cooked turkey, beef, chicken, and salmon.  Yum.  Perfect for high-value dog training treats too!

August 2012, my life changed.  Dexter was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation and Syringomyelia. Chiari Malformation is a skull malformation.  Syringomyelia is a neurological disease that progresses and varies in severity caused by this skull malformation. There is no cure, only various treatments to aid in comfort and less painful episodes. Symptoms vary from head scratching, face rubbing, general pain, weakness in limbs, lip licking, seeking cool places, excessive body rubbing, nerve damage, stiffness in limbs and the body forming into a C shape.  This condition is widespread in toy breed dogs like the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Griffon Bruxellois, Chihuahuas and other "doll-like" head shapes.

Video taped for the neurologist before diagnosis.

Dexter Waiting For His MRI

That first year was really tough.  I had to figure out what medications would help Dexter, what he could and couldnt do, and how best to treat him, and help him lead a happy, and pain-free life.  It was very painful to see my playful (he was 2) pup, full of life, being in pain, and having "bad days" needing extra pain pills. Luckily, I had Deb, and a great support group for dogs with SM that helped me through the learning curve, stress, and pain.

We managed our first year, but Dexter certainly wasnt thriving. Then I met her.  The woman who would totally change my life and give me my spunky Dexter back!  Dr. Judy Morgan, was (and is) a member of a great group of Cavalier folks on Facebook.  She selfishly provides the group with helpful tips on holistic pet health, and answers questions members have.  A truly giving woman.  I had a sneaky suspicion she would be able to help me at figuring out the best care for Dexter, so I set up a phone consultation with her.  Sure enough, she modified his medications and added supplements.  Within a few weeks, he was doing much better.  However, he still was having "bad days" about 3 times a week, give or take.

Then Dr. Morgan started her dog food webinars on how to home cook for your dog.  But the dog 

food webinars were more than learning how to make a healthy, balanced diet for your dog.  Dr. Morgan explained how the right foods can help treat disease, and the wrong foods can contribute to disease and discomfort. In July 2013, I made Dexters first slow cooker dog food!  I was super excited and started to post Dexters home cooked dog food recipes to Dexters Facebook page.  You can read one here. 

Over the next few months, Dexter started to feel better! I didnt realize what was going on, until my family and I were talking about how good he was doing, and how I hadnt been giving him as many "extra" pain pills.  And he was starting to get back to his silly self, playful, athletic, goofy.  Wow.  I continued to post his recipes on his Facebook page, and on his dog blog.  It wasnt long before our friends were asking us to make a dog cookbook, and the idea was planted. Within a few weeks, I started writing, what would become Whats For Dinner, Dexter? Luckily I photographed all of Dexters meals along the way and kept a database of his recipes. In a couple of weeks, Dr. Morgan agreed to join me, and co-author the dog food cookbook.

Dr. Morgan added a much-needed layer to the dog cookbook, not to mention the kick-butt title!  She was able to go into great depth and detail about home cooking for dogs, food therapy, and treating disease, with food.  She truly is a food Guru! The cookbook is now an in-depth how-to cook for your dog safely, and how to use the principals of Chinese Medicine Theory in your dogs recipes.  Its pretty amazing stuff!  Over the next year, she became quite an influence on me and has been a great mentor ever since.  Without her, and her expertise, Whats For Dinner, Dexter? would not be as fabulous as it is today.  The book and the process of writing a cookbook was a truly amazing experience.

Whats For Dinner, Dexter? has been quite a success. One of my favorite parts is seeing readers posting their photos of the recipes they create, and their modifications to meet their dogs needs.  After all, it is a cookbook, and geared towards teaching the reader how to customize the recipes to meet their dogs personal needs.  If you are a reader and havent shared your creations yet, please hop over to the official Whats For Dinner, Dexter? Facebook page, and post a photo.

Thank you, to everyone in my life who has helped me with Dexter, and supported our journey.  xo Tonya & Dexter The Dog

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

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Throw a Birthday Party for your dog

Todays article was all about Parties For Your Dog. So here I wanted to fine tune that a bit more into Birthday Parties for your dog. Birthday parties for your dog can be a lot of fun, especially if you can find a lot of games and such to keep everyone busy. Today Ill show you some videos of people throwing Birthday Parties for their dogs, give you more game ideas, and show you more things to look into.

Lets start with some videos shall we? Jesse and Heather join us again to show us what they did for Jesses 4th birthday.



As you can see they didnt have a full blown party of a lot of people or dogs but still had a lot of fun. Looks like they did a lot of contests with Jessee and Kaine and both dogs really seem to have enjoyed themselves!

Lets take a look at another video.



These guys did a great job at giving Max his 3rd birthday. The set things up very nicely and had a lot of dogs for him to play with. No contests, just let the dogs have fun running and playing together. I love the cake they did too!

Now if you really want to go all out, check out this video.



Its all up to you on what you want to do for your dogs birthday, it can be a lot of fun for people and for their dogs.

I think throwing in a few contests would be fun, along with prizes. Here a good book that can help you throw a good party. Beyond Fetch: Fun, Interactive Activities for You and Your Dog has some great party ideas and a lot of fun things you can do with your dog.

How about some Recipes to get you started?

Birthday Treats

Youll need;

• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup mashed banana
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup wheat germ
• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

For the Carob Frosting youll need;

• 1 cup carob chips (can be found in health food stores) May NOT be substitiuted with chocolate Chips! Chocolate is Toxic to dogs!
• 1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine peanut butter, banana and egg in a large bowl. Stir well. Gradually add wheat germ and whole wheat flour. Roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness and cut with cookie cutter. Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

Carob Frosting: Place bones on wax paper. In a double boiler over simmering water, stir carob constantly. When carob has softened, add oil. Mix well. With a spoon place a stripe down each bone. Be careful not to overheat carob as it will harden. Place in refrigerator for 15 minutes. Serve. (Quickly clean any utensils and dishes used for melting carob).
Makes 1 dozen

This treat Recipe came from the book The Doggy Bone Cookbook


How about a Birthday Cake Recipe too?

Youll need;

• 1 cup white or whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup shredded carrots
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 egg

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C)

Mix together flour and baking soda. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Pour into a ring mold sprayed with a nonstick spray for 40 minutes.

Frost this cake with low fat cottage cheese and decorate with carrot pieces. Store in refrigerator.

This Cake Recipe came from the website: Dog Cake Recipes

I hope I gave you some good ideas for throwing your dog a birthday party, have fun with it!

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7 Tips For Training Your Dog

Training your dog can sometimes be incredibly frustrating, both for you and for your pooch. If anyone tells you otherwise they’re either lying or have what I like to call ‘Proud Parent Syndrome’. Which I use to describe people who refuse to acknowledge that their dog (or even child) ever does anything wrong. So I wanted to share some tips with you that I have learnt from both being a dog owner and from working with dogs most of my life. To hopefully help you both on your journey to pet duo extraordinaire!! Or…ya know….a proud pet owner with a dog who finally listens.

Positive Reinforcement

I cannot emphasize this enough, your dog will be happier and learn much quicker with positive rewards. Are you essentially bribing your dog? Yeah…Kinda. But it WORKS. Studies have shown that training in a positive way is much more effective than other training methods used.

Positive rewards aren’t just food related, it can be anything your puppy loves. From his favourite tug game to his favourite ball. In fact the more your dog wants whatever you have the harder he will usually work to receive his reward. Remember your affection alone is seen as a reward to your dog. Don’t underestimate a good ear rub!

The Gambling Effect

When rewarding your pup, each treat will be on an imaginary scale of how much your puppy enjoys that item. For example a piece of kibble won’t be as enjoyable as a piece of chicken. Or his ball may not be as good a reward as a tug of war game with you. In order for your dog to stay interested, mix up his rewards so every now and again he hits the doggy jackpot. This keeps him eager to please and learn as he won’t know when he is going to hit that ‘jackpot’ again!

Timing

Timing is so crucial in training, you want to be rewarding your dog AS he performs the task you have asked of him. Not just before, and definitely not afterwards. If you are struggling with this, a clicker is a good training tool to help the dog mark when he has done something right. Just click as he is doing what you have asked and then go over and give your treat. He will soon associate the clicking with doing something right.

Patience

Like people, sometimes dogs just decide they don’t want to do something. So if your dog is being stubborn or you are losing your patience, it’s time to stop the session for a while and try again later. Some breeds are well known for being quick to learn whereas others not so much. Just because your neighbours dog learnt ‘sit’ in a couple of days doesn’t mean yours will. So have some patience with your pup.

Keeping It Short

Try to keep training session short, especially for puppies who have even shorter attention spans. If you push your dog too hard he will start to see training as a chore. By keeping it short it can soon become a fun exciting activity for your pup, which is ideal. I like to keep mine to around the 15 minute mark now Kai is an adult. It was more 5 minutes here and there when he was still a little gremlin *cough* I mean puppy.

Begin At Home

All training should be done at home first, including how to heel on a leash properly. At home there are less distractions, your dog feels safe and is way more likely to listen to you. So begin at home, and then move to the garden and eventually test your dogs new abilities while out on a walk. Many people skip training at home, or wonder why their dog will sit when in the living room but not while at the pet shop. Your dog has to learn a behaviour in a variety of environments before he or she realises that the command must be performed no matter where they are. This comes with time.

Repetition

Keep at it. If you put the time and effort into your dogs training, I promise you the rewards are so worth it! If you are doing everything right their is no reason you cannot have that well trained puppy you always dreamed of. Use my tips and keep at it and you’ll get there together. A dog is continuously learning throughout it’s life. And while training obviously gets more simple as they grow up, it is easy to slack off and then your dogs behaviour may become slack too. So don’t stop training just because your pups now an adult. You CAN teach an old dogs new tricks.


Training your dog can be so fun and such a good bonding experience for you both. It enriches your lives so to me it is always worth the effort. So I hope my tips have helped you understand your pup better or given you some new ideas on how to make your training more efficient.

Is your pup naughty? Have you managed to fix some of his bad habits? Or are you still struggling? I love hearing about your pooches so drop a comment below!

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Growing old together can be fun! Caring For Your Aging Dog

Im six years-young!

During my journey in writing this dog blog, I have examined a substantial amount of subjects that involve our furry friends. Now that I am writing about this particular subject, it’s truly starting to hit home for me as my heart-dog, Dexter, will be six years young this October.   I know some of you might not consider a six year old dog to be in his senior years, yet during the course of our normally active days, I find myself reminded of his increasing age.   This brings up a good question, at what age is a dog considered a senior?  The answer to this depends on the size and the breed, each has its own average lifespan.  Small breed dogs tend to have longer lifespans than the large or giant breeds, so if we average them all out we are looking at somewhere between 5-10 years old being considered in the senior age range.   Keep in mind that being labeled a senior does necessarily mean they are geriatric.

For me, this question recently started weighing heavily on my mind,  what will our life together be like as Dexter The Dog continues to age?  What will be different?  Do I need to adjust my routines and activities with Dexter as he approaches his senior years?   Luckily, when I have questions such as this, I can ask one of his veterinarians, Dr. Judy Morgan.  I have always believed that having a good relationship with your dogs primary veterinarian is crucial, particularly when they start to age.  Preventative care will always pay off in big dividends as opposed to waiting for something to happen, which can be expensive and even risk shortening their lifespan. 

Semi-annual wellness exams are a great way to start, this allows your veterinarian to exam your dog

Checking my thyroid and PH

for any unusual bumps, heart concerns, hearing, eye function and many other medical issues that most dog parents cannot detect.  Your veterinarian may also recommend blood work to check, and then monitor, your dogs organ functions.  For Dexter, we are already on this track (actually quarterly) because he is on daily medications for a medical condition.

Keeping physically fit is important too.  If Dexter keeps an ideal body weight, he will have less pressure on his aging joints and his heart muscle. In order to manage the weight, it is imperative that they be fed a healthy diet.  Personally, I customize and home cook all of Dexters meals to meet both his medical and behavioral needs.  When I first started doing this 2 ½  years ago, it had a huge impact on his health  so I cannot stress enough how important this one detail can be to your dogs longevity!

Natural supplements can assist in your dogs health too.  For Dexter, we focus on heart health and joint health.  Our regular regimen includes Alerg-3, Duralactin, CoQ10, K9 Plus and L-Carnitine. 

As always, please consult with your veterinarian on what would be appropriate for your dog and his needs.

Positive and fun dog training has always been a part of Dexters life, it helps to keep his mind sharp and active.  If you have a socially appropriate dog, you may consider attending a positive dog training class to have a fun, weekly outing with your dog. Not only will it keep your dog happy and healthy, but you may be very surprised at how quickly these classes can improve the relationship you have together.  A study in 2012 showed that dogs who were provided a behaviorally enriched environment along with a diet rich in antioxidants developed better cognition skills, even levels approaching those seen in young dogs.  Thats pretty amazing stuff.

For those dogs who are already in their senior years and you’ve noticed certain areas where they are slowing down, you should consult with your veterinarian before doing anything that may potentially cause injury to your dog.  If  you havent seen your vet for more than 6 months, please consider scheduling a wellness exam prior to implementing any of these techniques or games. 

NOT ALL EXERCISES ARE SUITABLE FOR EACH DOG.  FEEL FREE TO MODIFY OR ADJUST TO YOUR DOGS SPECIFIC NEEDS.

If you think your dog is struggling or having difficulty with anything mentioned, please stop and consult your vet. Safety first.

Low Impact Stretching/Tricks- It’s important to keep your dog’s muscles limber and exercised. Here are a few "tricks" that can also double as stretching exercises:  

• The Bow – This is a nice way to stretch out your dogs back and stimulate his mind. 

Grab a handful of healthy treats or dog food, holding some in both hands.  Starting with your dog in a standing position, place both your closed fists (with food) next to your dogs nose.  As your dog starts to smell them, slowly lower your hands down, moving slightly between your dogs front feet.  As your dog bends his head down, quickly give him one treat, then quickly bring your hands back up to lure your dog back to the standing position, reward him with another treat.  By luring your dog back up, you prevent him from laying down.  You can probably search, "teaching a dog to bow" and find some good how-to videos.

• Circle/Spin - Teaching your dog how to move in a circle is another nice stretch training behavior that is easy to teach.  Note, with older dogs or dogs who may not be used to learning new tricks, I like to teach this in phases. 

Grab another handful of treats and place them at your dogs nose.  Next, you start to spin in a circle so your dog  will follow the treat.  Even though you are circling, so is your dog as he follows the treat, its just a bigger circle and not so tight.  Once he is comfortable with this (may take a couple of days), take your treats and lure him around in a circle without you.  Try to keep your lure circle nice and wide so its not too tight, this could cause your dog to sit down or give up. You can check out this video of a past dog training student, teaching her dog.

• Walking The Plank - This is another nice trick,  or activity, for senior dogs and puppies as it helps with their coordination. 

You can purchase a board from your local hardware store, and attach 4 short, solid legs, or even place the board on a couple of even books, not too high, just a couple of inches as most off the ground.  Lure your dog onto the board with a treat.  Dont worry, it doesnt have to be perfect.  If hes not shy about his surroundings, you can place one side of the board against the wall so he doesnt jump around it.  As he steps onto the board, give him a treat, lure a couple of steps, another treat, repeat.  Here is a little video of a border collie practicing (for agility) to give you an idea.  Obviously, your senior will be a bit slower, and more methodical.  ;)

Low Impact Walking – Probably the simplest of all of the activities.

This may be done in the house or outside in your yard, it really depends on how active your dog is.  Dont try to do marathons, you want to just give him some attention and light exercise.  Engage him on your walks, smell the flowers, smell the mole tunnels, maybe even encourage him to dig one up!

Low Impact Games/Play - Games and play are a must for any dog, they are such playful creatures and play brings out the best in them.

• Find the toy/treat - Start by gently playing with one of your dogs favorite toys and get a nice game going.  Ask him to Sit/Stay (or hold him back if he doesnt know it), and place the toy 5 feet away from him & say “Find It!".   Once he grabs it start playing again,  or give him a food treat.  Build on this game by putting the toy farther and farther away. Tip:  If your dog can “stay”  while you leave the room, place the toy in another room and then tell him "Find It!"  You can encourage him as he looks for the toy, if this is done outside, I recommended that a leash is used.  For a detailed explanation, read my post-Find The Treat/Toy/Mommy.
• Sniffy-Sniffy - Does your dog like to smell the roses?  Get outside with him and teach him to sniff on cue.  Get excited, say "sniffy-sniffy" and point and touch the ground.  Preferably pointing to something that is likely to have some interest like a mole hole, or tree trunk.  Let him lead the way, then say "sniffy-sniffy" again while pointing to something else fun and exciting.  Wow!  Arent you just the best parent for finding all those great smells!  You can also toss his food out on the grass and encourage him to scavenge for it, but remember to play along, don’t just toss and walk away.
• Fetch The Leaf - This may sound odd for those reading this, but I recently played a very fun game with a Cavalier friend of mine.  This girl is very ball obsessed,  but she is also getting up there in age so running and leaping like a frog isnt the best thing for her knees. The alternative to this is playing fetch the leaf game. (Your outcome, of course, will greatly depend on how hard the wind is blowing).   First, while we were walking around the yard I would pick up a leaf and show it to her and tell her to “sit”,  I would then let the leaf go so she could chase it.  Now, I say “chase”  halfheartedly because it didnt go very far and she only had to take a few steps to reach it.  The erratic movements the leaf made held her attention and did not give her a reason to run around therefore slowing her down a lot.  The act of walking around looking for a leaf to toss, then the “sit position,”  then tossing the leaf,  all made this a very engaging game while keeping her calm at the same time. It was a major plus that she really seemed to enjoy it!  Its all about the anticipation of the game sometimes.

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There are other things to consider as your dog ages.  If your dog is allowed on furniture, using a dog ramp or steps is a must.  Actually they should be used at any age, a lot of damage can be done if your dog lands on his front feet or accidently slips or falls while getting up or down.   I personally have a few different sets scattered around my house that both Dexter and my cat use willingly, given the choice, I think they prefer the ramp over the steps.  We have both the  Puppy Stairs and Pet Gear Easy Steps. If I was not able to pick up Dexter and place him in and out of the car, I would also use a car pet ramp. I have had a lot of success with the Pet Gear brand, so the Pet Gear Travel Lite or Solvit UltraLite,  Ive been very happy with that brand as well.

You may also notice some changes in your dog’s behavior as he ages and this is always a red flag for me.  If your dog starts acting very out of character with increased barking, mood swings, or he just seems on edge, something is going on and a vet visit is in order. Some good advice from Dr. Judy Morgan, "If your dog seems lethargic, doesnt want to eat, or engage he may be in pain.  You should speak to your veterinarian."  

Here are some more tips from Dr. Morgan

If your dog is having a tough time with aging and seems depressed, contact a qualified dog counselor to see how you can help ease his anxiety. Natural calming aids may be beneficial, along with some confidence boosting games and activities mentioned earlier.

We are fortunate that nowadays we have some wonderful veterinarians that specialize in end of life, or hospice care for dogs. These veterinarians may provide end of life counseling, hospice service and even in-home euthanasia.  Locally, we have Four Paws Veterinary Wellness in Ann Arbor, MI.  Dr. Monica Turenne is an amazing and compassionate woman. 

Unfortunately, these lovely dogs can’t live forever and as much as these furry friends give us their life spans are way too short.  It is important to think about the quality of your dogs life as he ages.  Treat the treatable, and honor your dogs life by allowing him to go when hes ready.  Luckily in this day and age, most veterinarians will make an in-home euthanasia call.  Contact your vet prior to the end so you can make arrangements when needed. 

I would also like to take this space and talk about one of my favorite animal groups, Monkeys House-A Dog Hospice And Sanctuary.  This group takes in senior dogs who were left to die. Either their guardians dumped them at a shelter or, unfortunately passed away themselves without a guardian assigned to their dogs.  Monkeys House allows dogs to live out their final days without fear, full of love, and with stellar veterinary care and food.  So, please take a look at Monkeys House, and help if you can. 

My advice to you now, GO LIVE LIFE! Enjoy your dog to the fullest now.  Dont wait until his final days, and think to  yourself, "if I only had more time."  Do it now.  Sign off and go play with your dog!!

UPDATE:  I cant believe I didnt mention the use of a dog stroller! This is another great option for when your dog cannot keep up on long hikes, vacations or other adventures.  We love ours!

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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