Religious experience in the mountains

I found that if you drag out the picture it makes the mountain look steeper.

I was looking for a group ride today. Everyone I came across was going for a flat ride. I wanted to head to Mt Mee. So, as with many of my training rides, it was just me. On the way down off the mountain I sped past some of the awesome QSM dudes & dudettes on their way up. So I finished the decent & headed back up again. One climb turned very quickly into 4.

I was cruising along the flat towards the bakery with Michael & we were talking about the mountain. He then said "I like this mountain. Come to think of it I like Cootha too. Oh, one more I like ....mountain" I said to Michael "I like your attitude dude!"

So after spending a religious, Sunday morning at the Church of Mt Mee, giving praise to lactic acid, giving myself to the god of two wheels, praying for smashed legs & attacking mates, watching the moon set over the promised land of mountains I have fed my hungry soul that feeds on altitude & two wheels.

Read More..

What the Hells Hells Bells

Hells Bells is a 24 hour adventure race organised & run by Geocentrics Outdoor Adventures






The race saw a little walking/jogging, mountain biking, ropes course, abseiling, canyoning/swimming, no sleep & a huge amount of fun.






This was a great shake-out for 3 out of the 4 team members we have for XPD. A 10 day adventure race up in far north Queensland in May 2010

Oh, the person on the left, above is our team captain. That is the look she gives us when we are not paddling hard enough. "Paddle Dog or Ill smash you next time we go for a mountain bike ride!!!"




Once we had reached race HQ, had 2 x egg & bacon rolls, 2 x coffees I was unable to keep my eyes open. Aaaahhhh, that cool, hard, concrete slab right under my feet where I am sitting looks like a great place to sleee....zzzzz

Read More..

No two days are the same

Here is an example of what generally occurs in a dogs day.

3am: Alarm goes of. Weatbix, hot chocolate, gear up ready to ride off at 4am. This is when my Ay-Up lights come in very handy.

5am: Part way around the 75kms of Tour de Redcliffe loop.

6:30am: Visit favourite bakery for post ride carbs.

7:00am: S...S...S

8:00am: Start work

4:00pm: Finish work, pick up one of my boys from Volley ball training, go home, cook dinner, surf internet, catch up with the "So, what happened at school today?" conversation with my boys.

A few domestic duties, share more time with Natalie.

7:30pm: Nearly ready for bed.

8:30pm: Zzzzzz....

When I write it down like that, the day appears so short & simple. Maybe it is, but some days feel long & complicated. Others are as simple as they read.

Read More..

Whats in the inspiration tool box

I am sometimes asked "how do you manage to ride for 12 or 24 hours?" & "What do you think about when you are on your bike for 6-8 hours?" & "How do you get up at 3am most mornings to train?"

There are a few others, however these are the most common.

When we read Andrew Bells story about the recent Scott 24 hour he talks about pain. Not just leg cramps that a some water, food & stretching makes better. He is talking about the sort of pain that not only physically hurts, but the sort of pain that grinds you down mentally especially when you know you have over 20 hours to go that makes you doubt your ability & makes you think you want to just throw your bike into the bushes, walk home & never ride again.

There is a very deep hole (I am starting to think it is bottomless or has a leak) inside that I need to fill. Committing to, training & preparing for & completing the crocodile trophy 12/24 hour races are some of those things that fills the hole.

Through out 2008 road & xc season I have stood on the podium steps a few times. These are not the moments that I remember or mean the most.

I remember fast corners, awesome single track, long-slow-tough-ball busting climbs.

One of my most vivid & exciting racing memories for this year was race 3 of the Inferno Series. 80kms or so long. Awesome Jaman & I were smashing out rough single track, wheel to wheel. With in sight of each other for the entire race. I tell the story of this race often.

I have my own personal demons. They are well camoflaged day to day. So difficult to find. The best way I have found to flush them out of their hiding place so I can smash them is phsical & emotional stress. Go & do an endurance training ride or race. Find them, them smash them.

Read More..

Ay Up in the UK Europe

Here is the link to the brief itinerary for Mr. Ay Ups trip to the UK & Europe.

4 months of travel, riding, racing & some beer drinking too I suspect ;-)

One of the major reasons for this trip is to reassure our existing & potentially new UK/EU customers that we are continuing to drive forward in support & supply of these awesome lights.

Mr. Ay Up is also supporting/sponsoring local mountain bike & running events as a way of putting some back to where it came from.

So if you are nearby any of the events or competing, be sure to keep your eyes open for the Ay Up banners & cruise past say Gday.

Read More..

The feeling of winning is very short lived

For the past 2 years (since I first started road racing) I have been racing Masters B grade. One DNF, mostly I just finished with the main peloton.

One week ago saw this change. I used the little bit of experience I have gained in the past 2 years & made it to the top step of the podium of an Open B Grade 84km road race.

The feeling of winning is very short lived.

Racing with integrity against/with good people, maintaining & forging new friendships lasts a lot longer. Then, at the end of every race, regardless of the result that winning feeling lasts a lot longer.

Read More..

Named One Of The Top Ten Dog Trainers In The United States

Recently, I was named one of the TOP TEN dog trainers in the United States.  Wow.  What an honor.  I did not even realize I was on the dog training radar!  But, what a privilege to be named, and among some greats like Ian Dunbar, Kyra Sundance, and Zak George.

Dogs have ALWAYS been #1

I started my dog training career almost two decades ago.  Believe it or not, I was actually looking into graduate art programs but realized something was missing.  Art was more of a hobby, not a passion.  So I took a deep look into what made me happy, and what I wanted most out of life.  Two things popped up to the top of the list, helping people, and dogs.

I dropped out of my last year in art school and took kennel position at the Capital Area Humane Society in Columbus, Ohio. My heart was feeling good.....but maybe not so much. The sadness started to creep in; there were so many animals without a forever home. My manager advised me that, if I got my job done, I could spend the rest of my time walking the dogs. So I did. But I didnt just walk them, I started to train them. I would work with the dogs on confidence building skills, polite manners, and play. These seemed to be the areas where the dogs needed the most help.

But it still didnt seem like I was doing enough. What else could I do? Why did people drop off their dogs here? What could I do to prevent the dogs from getting to this point in the first place?  These questions lead me into dog training, and eventually specializing in canine anxiety and puppy development.  Prevent, and fix.

Now, almost 20 years later, I succeed in helping thousands of dog parents build happy, long-lasting relationships with their dogs using only humane, kind, and positive dog training methods. I am devoted to helping dogs, and their guardians, live together in health and harmony. I volunteer at both local and national rescue groups providing a variety of pro-bono services. 

On a global level, I provide online dog training services via phone and internet. I also provide a dog training seminars globally.  I offer professional staff training and other pet industry training services and even weekend dog retreats and camps.  Ive authored 3 dog behavior books....and counting.

variety of dog workshops, dog behavior lectures, and

I consider myself very fortunate to be able to help so many dogs and so many dog parents.  My dog training career can be very stressful at times, but in the end, there are certainly more pros than cons, and more happy endings that not.

Having this recognition as one of the best dog trainers, just fuels my soul to keep on going.  There are many more dogs to save, and owners to educate about the use of positive, effective, and sound dog training.  Thanks to everyone for their support, and I look forward to the next 4 decades!

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

Read More..

Quote of the day

Unknown Author

The only thing wrong with doing nothing is that you never know when youre finished.

Read More..

Kids Dogs Part One Walking The Dog

This will likely be an ongoing topic since there are so many nuances on how kids & dogs should interact, be actively supervised by adults & safe games for kids and dogs to play together.  I already wrote an article on How Kids Should Greet Dogs, so please check that out.  Plus another article Please Dont Stare which are two other good topics when teaching kids to be safe around dogs.

I will say once again, that two of my personal favoritethings in life are dogs & kids.  Over my last 16 years working professionally with families & dogs I have truly enjoyed working with these two fun & living souls.  But that does not mean they arent challenging!

Primary Focus On Her Dog

Todays post was sparked by my recent (10 minutes ago) walk with my own dog Dexter.  While Dexter and I were casually strolling our neighborhood, we saw 3 young children (guessing first grade) walking a 25lb or so dog.  I proceeded to start to give them more distance as I always do for dogs I dont know & as they approached, I could see the one girl grip the leash tighter.  As we passed she said how her dog doesnt like other dogs & growls & barks at them.  Thankfully Dexter tends to be so neutral that a lot of dogs do not respond to him & their dog just walked past like we werent even there.

Wow!  My mind was just in overdrive as Dexter & I continued to walk home.  There are so many things with this scenario that makes my hair stand on end.  So lets breakdown the idea of kids walking dogs WITHOUT an adult with them.

At what age should a child be allowed to take the family dog for a walk without an adult?  As you can imagine there is not a gold standard in age.  But I wouldnt even consider a child under 12 to take a dog for a walk without an adult.  There needs to be some social maturity holding that leash.  Then I would look at a few key factors before making a decision.  You should be able to answer YES to all the questions below without any hesitation.

v     Does the child respect & always treat the dog kindly?

v     Will the child be able to handle the dog if he does get excited?

v     Will the child prioritize the dogs needs above their own?

v     Does your child know to pick up the dogs poo?

What about the dogs behavior & personality?  Once you have come to the conclusion that your

Photos Courtesy of Kelly Chalfant

child is mature enough to walk a dog without an adult, we need to look at the dogs personality & behavior to see if he is a suitable candidate.  You should be able to answer YES to all the questions below without any hesitation.

v     Is the dog well behaved in public & on a leash?

v     Does the dog pretty much ignore small critters such as bunnies, cats, & squirrels? 

v     Does the dog care less about passing traffic, noises & booms?

v     Does the dog listen well to the child?

v     Is the dog friendly with all strangers, but not too overly excited?

v     Does he ignore other dogs?

Where will your child be walking the family dog?  Even if your child is mature & your dog is low key & responsive to your child, the environment can play a huge factor in your decision making.  I am sad to report that I know a handful of children who where appropriate & their dog was appropriate whos dogs were attacked by other off leash dogs.  This is so terribly upsetting to me on so many levels.  Yes, I did write an article on What To Do If You Run Into An Off Leash Dog, one of my most popular articles to date, which unfortunately says a lot.

This is something  you really should think long & hard about.  As a parent you are making a decision for your child that could affect the rest of their life both emotionally & possibly physically if anything should go wrong.  I would like to say it doesnt happen that often, or only happens in "bad neighborhoods" but in my personal experience that has not been the case.

So now what?  I know I am not a parent to a human child, but I have been working with parents, their children & dogs for quite some time now to have a good grasp on what is safe behavior & what is risky behavior.  Im not a risk taker when it comes to people or dogs in my care.  So what this means to me is that I would urge you to walk WITH  your children & dogs as a family outing.  This is a wonderful time to bond with your children & to continue to teach them life lessons on dogs & dog responsibility.  Leave the ultimate responsibility of your dog & children in your hands not theirs.  

Enjoy your family & get out walking!

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

Read More..

Take the next step

I consider myself an endurance cyclist & not a fast one. At the very last minute Natalie & I went to the Balmoral Cycling Club hosted, Saturday morning criterium racing.

I have been riding B grade for a while now. I managed to be in the right place at the right time with a little extra kick in my legs & ended up with a couple of podium finishes. Having to start work at 9am, A grade was the only option if I wanted to feed the racing-bug. So step it up dog!

Big peloton, awesome fun, great cyclists, will be there again.

Must go to bed in preparation for the some short course, club, xc racing tomorrow morning.

ATTACK JAMAN!!!

Read More..

Motivating the Non Treat or Toy Motivated Dog

Today we covered how to motivate your dog in our article "Motivating Your Dog" however we didnt cover just how to motivate that dog, that doesnt like treats or toys. Here I hope to help you with just that.

There are a lot of dogs out there who do not like treats or toys. Ive seen a lot of them. Using clickers and positive reinforcement, you need something that will motivate your dog. Dogs who dont like treats or toys puts a little bit of a damper on training.

First of all, lets start with the non-treat motivated dog. Ask yourself a few questions first to be sure you actually do have a non-food motivated dog.

• Do you free-feed your dog? (Have food down at all times for them?)
• Do you feed your dog, then try training them with more food?
• What type of treats are you using?

If you answer yes to the first 2 questions or either one of them, this could be your problem. Instead of free-feeding or feeding your dog then training, portion out the dogs food and use his food during the training. Make him work for his kibble. It is healthier for him this way too.

If you answered no to either of those, and youve tried portioning out his food and still no results, ask yourself, what type of treats are you using. Try a variety of things! Cheese, hot dogs, chicken, beef, turkey, what ever you can think of! Make sure its not toxic for the dog though, such as Grapes or chocolate. If your dog still is not interested what so ever, then I believe you can accurately say you have a non-treat motivated dog.

Now lets look at the non-toy motivated dog. If your dog is food motivated, but not toy motivated, you can use the food to train your pet to like toys by clicker training. You can also spike interest in toys by getting interactive toys you can put food into. Getting a dog to like toys is all about building the dogs prey drive. A good way to start this is with a simple rag on a rope. Twitch it around, pretend your playing with a cat. This will help spark a lot of dogs interest in toys, building on that prey drive that is already built into the dog. You can use a rag on a rope, or a simple long toy or tug on the end of the rope. I like attaching the rope to a long stick to get more action of the toy at the end.

For an example of what Im talking about, I found this video. You might watch with volume down low as the pups are very excited and barking a lot. They are training these pups for schutzhund work so they are holding them back from the toy to further build their prey drive. You dont have to hold your dog back when doing this.



As you can see, this builds a lot of excitement in most dogs. I have a German Shepherd that has never been interested in toys, yet when I bring out this toy, shes always been nuts about it! Give it a try and see what happens. It might not work for all dogs, but its still worth a try.

So, if you really do have a non-treat and non-toy motivated dog, you have to get creative! What does motivate your dog? What makes your dog happy? Perhaps it is simple praise and petting, perhaps its brushing with their favorite brush, maybe its being allowed up on the couch or bed. Do they like playing with other dogs? Sniffing in the bushes? Going on a walk? You can use all of these as rewards, simply have your dog do what you want first, click or say YES! and let them go do what they want to do, or invite them on the couch (if they are allowed).

A few examples here. Praise and petting is great because you can take that everywhere you go. Brushing, you can have your dog sit, click, and brush for a few seconds, then have your dog do something else to earn more brushing. Have your dog sit or down before you invite them on the couch or bed. Have your dog sit, down or walk on a loose leash before being released to go play with the other dogs, sniffing the bushes or going on a walk. Walks are great because you can use simple movement as the reward to anything you want your dog to do.

So, a non-treat and non-toy motivated dog is not impossible to train using positive reinforcement. Yes it makes it harder and you have to get creative, but it is still doable!

The book Click for Joy! is great for answering questions such as these. Its a whole book based on frequently asked questions by real people all about clicker training. If you have questions, this is the book for you. The author does a wonderful job of answering each question in great detail.

The book Clicking With Your Dog has a list of treat ideas, along with treats not to use because they are toxic. A great list to have. It has great ideas on how to train your dog while going about your daily business, even if you are watching TV or on the computer, it shows you how to train your dog while doing so. This book not only has tricks that are useful such as putting toys away or helping with laundry, but also basic obedience; sit, down, loose leash walking, stay and more. Also has teaching your dog to retrieve using clicker training. A great read and I cant recommend it enough.

I hope I gave you some ideas on how to go about training your hard to motivate dog! Get out there and train your dog!

Check out part 2 on How To Train A Dog That Doesnt Like Food or Treats

Dont forget to check out our Squidoo pages that you can find over on your right!

Read More..

Surviving the Winter Blues with Your Dog

Brrrr its cold out there! Today in Ohio, its a balmy 8 degrees. The only good thing about that is there isnt much snow on the ground. I thought, since Dexter and I are staying mostly inside today, it would be a nice time to offer some winter precautions and fun things you can do with your dog outside and inside.

Safety first. I am hoping that my readers do not keep their dogs outdoors.

Keep them warm

Dogs are companions, and offer us so much, we at the very least can offer them a warm home. However, they should go outside for potty breaks, physical and mental exercise. When its freezing outside, outside outings should be limited.

• Feet-Dog foot pads are not boots! A dogs feet get cold just like ours do. For quick potty breaks, toddler socks work well. They are easy to put on, and no worries when the fall off. If you get dark colors, you can find them in the snow. Dog boots are perfect for longer outings and walks. Out of all the dog boots Ive tried with Dexter, Satsox by far are our favorite. The runner up is Pawz, they keep the snow and ice out but they dont keep a paw very warm.
  • If your dog goes outside without boots or socks, please make sure you clean the salt and ice from his foot pads. A warm washcloth or pet wipes work well.
• Scoop-Unlike us (I hope), your dog needs to do his business outside. Scoop a nice, large walking area for him, the bigger, the better. If your dog likes to walk around before doing his business, make sure you scoop walking trails. Keep his potty area clean, or he wont want to eliminate there!
• Dog Coat-A must! Our dogs need to stay warm too. Look for a dog jacket that offers full-range of motion and covers their bottom.

• Sweaters-Yes. If you have a chilly dog, even indoors can be drafty. If you find your dog curling in a tight ball, or seeking the sun rays, a nice sweater will make all the difference in the world. Dexter is an odd-shaped dog, long and lean. We tend to have our sweaters custom made by MeekByDesign. She does amazing work! Dont forget to tell her Dexter sent you. You can also check Amazon for off the rack dog sweaters.
• Dog Hats-Why not? Dexter doesnt typically where a dog hat, but he has on occasion. It most definitely helped with the snow build up on his ears. He has long, long, spaniel ears that are a magnet for snow, and anything thing else they touch.
• Dry and Cover-When your dog is ready to come inside from playing, dont forget to dry him off. My favorite two towels are the Aquis microfiber towel and Mugzys Mutt towel. If your dog tolerates it, a dog hairdryer can feel oh, so good! While you are drying off your dog, toss your dogs favorite dog blanket into the dryer. After drying off your dog, remove the dog blanket from the dryer and cover up your pooch, or allow him to lay on it. Toasty!

Outdoor fun with your dog. During winter, dont miss those days that are actually sunny! Although, the weather still may be cold, it feels great to get a little vitamin D from the sun. Keep safety in mind, but sunny days are a nice time to get outside with your dog. Below are a few games you might be able to play with your dog.

• Snow Maze-Depending on the depth of the snow, and the height of your dog, a snow maze can actually be a really fun game. While your dog is inside staying warm, scoop various paths, leading to scooped open areas and treat filled toys. In the beginning, place the filled treat toy at the end of an easy path. Let your dog outside, and encourage him to sniff around. In the beginning, you will likely need to “help him” find the prize at the end. But, after a few sessions, your dog will get the idea, and your can make the paths more difficult.
• Snowball Fight- OK, maybe not a snowball fight, but what about a game of catch? Pack a little clean snow and toss it up in the air to the side of your dog. Dont toss it right at his face, he probably wont appreciate that until he realizes he can catch it. If your dog isnt much of a catcher, but more of a chaser, toss the snowball like you would a ball. Dont worry if the snowball blends with the other snow, its about chasing. When he gets to where you tossed, repeat with a new snowball.
• Find It-If there is a nice amount of snow, tossing a ball into the snow so that it buries itself can be loads of fun for some dogs. If the ball is brightly colored, it will be easier to find. You can also toss treats into the snow too.
• Skijoring and Sledding-For some people and their dogs, winter is their favorite time of the year. These are two dog sports for the active dog and owner. A quick Google search will teach you how to safely get started.
• Walking-It doesnt have to be fancy. Just because its winter, doesnt mean you and your dog have to be hermit crabs. Bundle both you and your dog up, and hit the park. A nice walk can be just what the doctor ordered. Dont forget to bring something to dry your dog off with.

Indoor games with your dog. When its just too cold, too snowy, or just too dark to go outside, you can still have fun with your dog. It is important to keep your dog both mentally and physically fit. I love playing with Dexter, and the cold weather just bumps up our indoor game repertoire. Below are some of my favorite games to play with my dog indoors.

• Find The Treat/Mommy-Its always a fun game to have your dog find a specific person, toy or even a treat. A great game for dogs of all ages and activity level. Read how to teach this trick in my other article-Find The Toy.
• Indoor Fetch-Who said you cant play ball in the house? Sure you can. You just need to modify it a little by not going crazy. A few, light tosses down the hall or living room can do the trick. Do you need a little help with the drop? Read how to teach your dog to drop or give here.
• Playing Tug-Maybe your dog is more of a tugger. Tug can be a nice indoor
  

  

  game. Playing a good game of tug can help your dog learn how to control his arousal, have a good drop, and listen. Learn how to safely play tug with your dog by reading this article.
• Indoor Obstacle Course-Grab some sturdy books, broom, boxes, a tall kitchen chair and even some mixing bowls. Make a fun doggie obstacle course for your dog to navigate. Place two books across from each other and place your broomstick on top=dog jump. Next, put your kitchen chair a few feet from the jump=tunnel. Line up your mixing bowls in a straight line about 2 apart=weave “poles”. Next, take your boxes and toss some treats inside=jackpot. Now, grab some treats and guide your dog through the course. This is fun, so dont worry about “doing it right.” Laugh, praise, treat and laugh some more.
• Food Puzzles with a Twist-In my article, How To Stuff a Hollow Dog Chew, I taught you the foundations of a good, filled dog toy. I like to bump it up a notch by hiding the dog food toy, or tossing the filled treat ball in a pillow case, inside a box, or in a laundry hamper. This puts another layer onto the game. For dogs who lack confidence, this is a nice confidence boosting activity.
• Dog Training and Tricks-Dogs are so smart, and when taught in a positive and fun manner, teaching your dog new tricks and behaviors can be a life saver in the winter. You can work on anything from obedience behaviors like stay, come when called, name game to fun tricks like hand target, spin, rollover or retrieving games.

Food For Thought. Energetically, all food will either warm or cool your body. In

Learn More

the winter, your dog may need to have more “warming foods” to combat all the coldness. This might be a time to add warming foods such as chicken, goat, lamb or venison to your dogs meals. Not sure how to start? Check out my book, Whats For Dinner, Dexter? to learn more.

Dexter and I have learned how to continue to have fun and exercise in the winter months, but we would prefer to spend our winters on a warm, sandy beach. :) When that time comes, you can check out my post on outdoor activities with your dog. Until then, stay warm and safe.

Dont miss out on upcoming reviews and dog training tips, 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. 

Did you find my posts helpful? If you did, please share the post and LIKE my Facebook page. 

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

Read More..

Little gem in the mountains

One of the wonderful things with cycling is all the places it takes me that would never have seen before. At the top of Mt Nebo is Cafe Boombana tucked away a little off the road. This is a big call, but for me, it is one of the best coffees to be found in Brisbane. Also as Electric Panda mentioned on numerous occasions, the view is worth the ride. So there is your photo EP.

There are many cycling routes to get you to the cafe. All of which are highly rated rides. Both xc & road. It is easy to get over 2000 metres of climbing in less than 80kms. So it is a great training area too.

The video shows the last bit of a brake smoking decent.

Read More..

Living the dream

This is a statement/comment often made. What is YOUR idea of living the dream?
I am coming around to the possibility that I am living it. I dont have much $, I dont own a house, things go wrong, I crash my bike, I get really tired...everybody knows what I am saying there.

But get this, I have two beautiful sons, a couple of sweet bikes to ride, time to get out & ride them, a great job, a very decent person to work for, an awesome girl friend...the list can go on.

Cycling is one of those special hobbies. I continually meet many really good people (& obviously the occasional tosser)

Last weekend saw a 3 1/2 hour drive north of Brisbane. Best I take my roadie with me. After some internet networking during the week I found a Sunday morning peloton to ride with.

Sunday morning: I had a road bike & tight lycra so I was accepted by the alpha rider into the group ;o) Thanks to the guys in Hervey Bay for the guided tour. One question though, Is there always a smashing headwind up there? If so I am keen to visit again soon.

Everyday is awesome, some are just more awesome than others.

Read More..

Ay Up in the USA

.


Andy Fellows is ripping it up in the USA. Showing off Ay Up Lights & ripping the legs of everyone he races against.



Check out his latest blog entries. New banner is cool too.


.

Read More..

Adolescent Dogs The Teenage Years

Puppies are so cute.  They have the best puppy breath, sweet eyes, fluffy fur.  But, what happens when they hit that time in their lives when you just feel like you are going to lose your mind?  You know what Im talking about, a teenager with fur!

Your puppy will become an adolescent dog around the time his canine teeth start to come in, and this developmental stage lasts until he is about 18 months of age.  During this time, your puppys immature brain is changing and developing, and it can be a difficult and challenging period in both your puppys life and yours.  The best comparison between a puppy adolescent is a human teenager, and, needless to say, this can be one of the toughest times in your relationship.

An adolescent dog is more often than not rowdier, mouthier, jumpier, and more obnoxious than at any other time in his life. They tend to have short fuses, test you, and downright ignore you when given the opportunity.  Our shelters consist of a lot of adolescent dogs, dog parents just feel like they dont know what to do, and cant control their behavior.  I use "parent" lightly, because a good parent would not give up. So why even bother?  Because it is a temporary time in their lives, and they are so worth the effort.

What you can do.  Have patience.  Have a little more patience.  Continue with all your training lessons, play exercises, and prevention life lessons.  Focus on all the positive aspects your puppy has already learned and keep up his progress.  Have fun when interacting with your puppy.  Keep in mind the best way to keep your puppy engaged with you is to be fun and enjoyable, especially during this time.  If you have been putting in the work, adolescence will not be as troublesome.  If, during your puppys first 18 months of life, you continue to play a very proactive role in his development and learning, you will be able to have an enjoyable "rest of his life," for hopefully 10+ years.

Your puppys future depends solely on you.  When you decided to bring home your new puppy, you

took on the great responsibility of his livelihood and his future.  Your puppy is a bright being, full of life, who is counting on you to train him and help him develop into a great family dog.  You are responsible for his life and well-being.  If you choose to work with him only half-heartedly and do not teach him the life skills he needs to live in your human world, he is more likely to become one of the 4 million pets surrendered to animal shelters each year.

So keep working with your puppy on a daily basis.  If you are practicing the exercises in Proactive Puppy Care daily, you are on your way to a well behaved and valued family member.  Keep taking your puppy on regular, preferably daily socialization adventures.  Get the help of a positive and experienced dog training coach and enroll in group, or private classes. As they say, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

And lastly, but certainly not least, enjoy your puppy and have fun!  

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

Order Today

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

Read More..

Dog Breed of the Week Labrador Retriever

Labrador Retrievers are the Most Popular Dog according to AKC

And of course that is why this dog has to be the first to kick off my

Dog Breed of the Week mentions!

Labs are great family dogs! They are extremely loyal, smart, love attention and are eager to please!

Fun News: Maine is considering making Labradors the official dog of their state!

Awesome Labradors Doing Awesome Things: Lab leads Cop to Collapsed Owner

Here are a few pictures of our lab Molly!

 

Learn more about labs here

Let me know which breed should be next weeks dog of the week by comment/Facebook 
or else get another one of my choices based off my own completely biased opinion ;)

Dont forget All dogs need proper socialization, desensitization and training to be able to be good dogs

 so do your part in raising your pooch right!

?

Read More..

Preventing Resource Guarding The Dog Food Bowl

Preventing Resource Guarding In Dogs A very common and natural behavior in dogs is

Dont wait for a problem, prevent one!

resource guarding. Resource guarding is a term commonly used that refers to a dog that uses threats to protect items that he sees as valuable. Dogs can deem any item, location, space, or person as a valuable possession worth fighting for. Resource guarding is a survival instinct and once again a normal dog behavior but not something we want to see in our pet dogs. You are best served to work on a prevention program instead of trying to deal with a behavior that can be very severe and even life-threatening.

Today we are going to talk about preventing resource guarding around the dog bowl.

The Food Bowl You will be teaching your puppy that not only is it okay for a person to approach while he is eating out of his food bowl, but that it is a very good thing when they do. Of course, I am hoping you are using your puppys food for training and interactive treat toys, and not truly using his food bowl as a means of feeding.  But, it is still important to teach prevention with a dog food bowl in the event that your dog actually eats out of a boring dog dish instead of training games and interactive treat toys. ;)

• Approach the empty dog food bowl and your puppy put a small handful of his dog food in the bowl and allow your puppy to eat the food. As he is eating add another handful of kibbles (dog food). Practice this session once a day for three days.
• Approach the empty dog food bowl and your puppy, remove the bowl, put a handful of dog food in, put the bowl back down and allow your puppy to eat the food. Before he is finished, put your hand inside the food bowl and drop three high-value treats (100% meat treats or cooked meat) inside the bowl and remove your hand. Practice this session once a day for three days.
• Approach the empty dog food bowl and puppy, remove the bowl, put a handful of food in, put the bowl back down and allow your puppy to eat the food. Before he is finished, pick up the bowl add more kibbles and a few pieces of meat treats in the bowl then set back down for him to eat. Practice this session once a day for three days.
• Approach the empty dog food bowl and puppy, put the entire meal of food in the bowl, put the bowl back down and allow your puppy to eat the food. Before he is finished, place a handful of meat treats inside of his bowl. Practice this session once a day for three days.
• Approach the empty dog food bowl and puppy, put the entire meal of food in the bowl, put the bowl back down and allow your puppy to eat the food. Leave the room, come back into the room before he is finished eating and pick up the bowl and place a handful of meat treats inside his bowl and place the bowl back down. Practice this session once a day for three days. After your three days, repeat this process every other day for a week, then once a week for his entire life to keep the behavior and reaction strong.

Tips and Reminders

• Start each exercise over with a new adult doing the exercises, providing no aggression or guarding has occurred.
• Resource guarding is a behavior that can occur at any age, at any time. Therefore, it is essential to work on prevention throughout your puppys life through old age.
• If you have small children it is critical teach them at an early age not to bother the puppy while he is chewing, eating, or sleeping. Do not allow children to see you perform these exercises, as kids tend to do as they see, not as they are told.

If you ever see your puppy stiffen up, growl, or snap, or lunge around resources stop your exercises and seek professional help immediately. Do not attempt these lessons without professional assistance if you are seeing signs of guarding. 

A good resource for resource guarding is Jean Donaldsons book Mine!

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

Read More..

How to Prevent Anxiety in the Crate

Image Credit: Taken by me of our dog Blackjack

I wrote a Bubblew post today on How to Prevent Anxiety in the Crate Learn how to properly introduce your dog into the kennel and teach them to relax instead of getting all worked up! If your dog already has anxiety in the crate, this will still work for you! It also helps get rid of anxiety in the crate.

Go read my Bubblew post; What Most People Dont Know about Crate Training

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

Read More..

Pets On The Go Travel Bag Review

This week I took over Dexter The Dogs review. Since this review isnt something Dexter can eat, I figured Id be the best one to review Pets On The Go Travel Bag. Since Dexter and I travel a lot, and Dexter has a lot of gear I am thrilled to be able to talk about a dog travel bag. So, lets get to it.

The Classic Bone Brown pet travel bag is about 22 inches across, 14 inches tall and 4 inches wide. When holding it and looking inside, it looks like it will hold Dexters travel gear such as his H2O4K9 stainless steel dog travel bowl, doggie poop bags, 50 leash, dog treats and dog toys. The dog bone bag fits all this gear, but couldnt quite fit Dexters travel cooler bag that holds his home cooked dog food.

The dog travel bag has a main pouch, two half-pockets on one side of the outside, a full-length pocket on the other side of the outside, and a length-adjustable carrying strap. Obviously, this dog bag is super cute and fits my personal style.

The biggest downside for me is that the main pouch is secured with a piece of

Velcro. I would have appreciated the main pouch to have a zipper so that Dexters belongings would be secure without a chance of falling out. When I travel and pack my small car, I never know how something is going to be backed, and sometimes my luggage is upside down.  However, if you want to have easy reach-in access to be able to grab a toy or treat, this would work great.

The pet luggage is reinforced so it stands upright on its own, which made packing a breeze. The bag is also very light, about 1.4 pounds. Pets On The Go travel bags are made in the U.S.A. from military grade 1000 denier nylon Cordura. Which makes this bag tough, durable, washable, water repellent, and fade resistant.

Now that I have the Pets On The Go Travel Bag, Im ready to hit the road with my favorite side-kick. Our next big travel is in a few weeks, where I will be speaking at the World Of Pets Expo on treating dog separation anxiety. I cant wait to put this dog travel bag to the test. I have high hopes. I might even steal it from Dexter and use it as my own personal computer bag!

Pros: Durable, great size, lightweight, manufactured I n U.S.A. And super cute.

Cons: Would have preferred a zipper enclosure.

A big paws up for the Pets On The Go Travel Bag!  You can visit them at www.DesignspiritUSA.com

Dont miss out on upcoming reviews and dog training tips, 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.

Did you find my posts helpful? If you did, please share the post and LIKE my Facebook page. 

 

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

Read More..