San Diego Puppy Training: Godiva Update

Godiva, a Pocket Beagle was given the most fabulous start in life as her owners had been through a past dog experience they didn’t want to relive. Off to camp she went as a puppy and the payoff has been huge.

Potty training and basic commands she has down and she’s only 8 months old now. Her family has four small children so nipping and unruly behavior around the kids was something that was really important to the parents. Godiva was socialized as a puppy and because of her early exposure and training she’s very well mannered even around a lot of little hands, food, toys, and noise.

As with anything in life there is alway a balance that needs to be maintained. Too many rules and one is set up for failure. Not enough rules and chaos takes over. With Godiva the fine balance is still in the achievement mode where she’s very much so still a puppy but is able to follow direction and contain herself when it’s appropriate.

Quite frankly I think she’s one of the coolest dogs in the world (other than my own of course). She’s had many pictures on Facebook and Twitter and several blog post written about her. She’s got a following of her own. If she were mine I think she’d have her very own Twitter account!

Great news for those who have followed her... she’s coming back to K9 Coach Dog Training Camp! So more pictures and videos to follow. How exciting for us all. You may be wondering however why she is coming back to camp if she is so well behaved at such a young age.

The answer is two fold. Her family is taking a vacation and rather than board her they’ve decided to give her the chance to learn even more things. Since her breed is actually from the hound dog classification which means she likes to work and she’s got tons of potential, teaching her some very cool things is on the horizon. Secondly, Jt Clough, owner and professional trainer of K9 Coach San Diego is heading out to That’s My Dog in Wisconsin to teach an Advanced Dog Trainers Course and the dog thats going with her as the demonstration dog.... yep, you got it. Godiva.

Follow Godiva on Twitter at Twitter.com/GoTrainYourDog and click the link below to become a fan of K9 Coach Facebook.

K9 Coach offers exclusive dog training camps and private dog training lessons in San Diego and Temecula, CA. Online dog programs are available for those outside the area or who want to bring their one personal dog trainer home only on your time schedule.

K9 Coach Dog & Puppy Training on Facebook

Leash Aggression. What To Do.

Leash aggression is becoming more common in our dog’s urban lifestyle’s. Many owners are baffled by why their dog can be such a tyrant on leash while when off leash display play bows and find dog friends.

Its too bad our dogs can’t talk even if only for a day to say exactly the reason but since they can’t lets explore the obvious. It’s simply not a natural thing to be on a leash. Think about if you weren’t allowed to go anywhere without being “restrained”. It would be rather easy to pick up that unsure feeling, combined with the realization that control lies somewhere other than pure instinct from the dog’s end of the leash. Restriction can be uncomfortable when options are seemingly taken away.

Add owners who start getting that nervous feeling when seeing an oncoming dog due to the fear of what the neighbors, fellow trail users, and other dog owners reactions reflect and the behavior starts to run its course as a merry go round that doesn’t stop. The key to redirecting the behavior is going to lie in finding some balance for dog and owner.

Ollie, an Irish Terrier came to camp with the classic leash aggression habits. His program started with upping the exercise level. By adding exercise for a dog that has a little extra energy anyway, is key in “taking the edge off” of that nervous feeling that has become a habit when meeting an oncoming leashed dog.

Another key ingredient to add is the person at the end of the leash needs to remain calm. As with many dogs who struggle with leash aggression, Ollie makes a big noise ruckus but really has no intention of getting into a fight. Knowing that helps many people to remain calm, take control of the situation and move through it without perpetuating the feeling in their dog.

Keep your dog moving. Its a huge mistake that many people tend to make out of trying to get everyone involved to deal in a human way. Stopping out of not knowing what to do, or trying to force your dog to stop doing it in the beginning of rehabbing this behavior simply is going to bring the stress level up for everyone.

If you have a dog that struggles with leash aggression start your training program by:

•Add a lot of exercise
•Work on your own reaction
•Remain calm and work your dog through it
•Don’t stop movement by focusing on the oncoming dog
•Do keep moving with your dog
•Ignore the barking and lunging and use your body to move onward
•Keep your nervous reaction in check
•Don’t give your dog appeasement with words like “it ok”
•Move, move, move and add exercise

Ollie is doing so great and about to go home from his exclusive dog training camp. He’s been out on trails, to the beach, walked past outdoor restaurants, and any other urban normal neighborhood thing that goes on. He needs a ton of exercise and gets it through running along side a bike, walking trails, running trails, playing with our “dog coaches” at camp, and repeating more of the same.

Follow Ollie’s pictures, dog training tips, and news about other dogs on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/GoTrainYourDog

K9 Coach offers private dog training lessons, exclusive dog training camps in San Diego and Temecula, and online dog training lessons for dogs anywhere.

Article by Jt Clough® 2009

Dog With Bad Behavior? The Magic Training Formula.

Your dog causes some of your most spontaneous smiling moments, yet there are those times that bad behavior takes over and you just want to scream! Sound familiar?

This could be the biggest thing you could do to change your dog's bad behavior into a very calm dog that actually listens to you. The cool thing is that for the most part it is free and you can do it starting today!

Click the link to read Dog behaving badly? The magic formula.

Get started today!

For more dog training tips, fun dog photos, and cool dog news follow us on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/GoTrainYourDog

If you are in the San Diego area and are looking for a jump start to a healthy exercise program for your dog ... exercise equals training in real life... check out our Dog Training Camps, Private Lessons, and Online Dog Training Programs.