Viszla Mix joins Rhodesian Ridgeback At Dog Training Camp San Diego

Ya gotta love Rosie. No other way to look at her, ya just gotta love her. Brody, the Rhodesian Ridgeback came to camp last week and when Brody’s mom told her brother about it, he thought “what a great thing to have Rosie (his dog) trained at the same time”.

As it turns out it is a really great thing. Rosie started a few days behind Brody but she has her things she is already doing spectacularly! This Viszla mix has different dog problems than Brody has, but training side by side each of their “deals” can be addressed. And since as a family they tend to hang together a lot anyway, all will be well for both of them.

Brody is a boisterous boy... Rosie a timid little girl. Rosie was a rescue dog... and who knows why she is the way she is but no time to speculate. Instead at her exclusive San Diego Dog Training Camp, complete with her own bed in the house, backyard pool, large yard, and plenty of trails nearby; she is getting new skills to deal with her tendency to break down in the shakes with the look of “oh my, I’m afraid and don’t know what to do” behavior.

It’s about building confidence and to do that we work on some basic obedience to take her through those times when life gets a little scary for her. Even though Rosie has an owner who has been very good about working with her on obedience skills before, she now is being taught how to integrate how to do things in a more relaxed state when she feels like the world has become a bit of a scary place for her.

Obedience is key, exercise is key, and having a dog be able to know what to do, even if its a simple sit in the face of huge distraction, or something that for whatever reason has become scary for her, brings a dog like Rosie the confidence to handle those things she melted about before.

As a general rule, dogs pick up on energy before they pick up on anything else. If there is one big huge tip I could anyone who has a dog that does the meltdown for no apparent reason, it would be to learn to relax and teach your dog to do the same.

Yeah, yeah, easier said than done. And even though we think we do that (relax), next time your dog either gets too excited or or appears to be scared, realize how tense you are in trying to get your dog to stop.

More on those skills in future blog posts... for now... no matter what your dog’s personality, think about what sort of energy you are putting out there by looking at how your dog is acting. To change any behavior start with slowing down, letting the situation not become so stressful, and letting everyone including your dog relax and settle into knowing what to do.

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

And for more info on getting you and your dog into the exclusive dog training camp designed to train your dog for real life, and you how to chill and have some fun with your dog contact K9 Coach.

Now go out and have some fun with your dog!

Woof!

Rhodesian Ridgeback Comes to Dog Training Camp

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are dogs that come from hunting roots. They come from Africa and were bred to hunt everything from lions to small furry running things but these days they are more likely to hunt for a spot on you couch than anything else.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is very intelligent, gentle, yet quite independent. This combination can be endearing, entertaining, a loyal friend, stubborn, and frustrating all at the same time. Early training is the best way to bring out the endearing side and minimize the frustrating part.

Brody fits the traits of most Ridgebacks in that he is an exuberant and active puppy. The good news is he will mature into a quiet dog who will need moderate exercise to keep him fit, and mentally stimulated.

Early socialization is important for any puppy, and Brody has done well with this. In fact, he LOVES other dogs and displays his “exuberance” when he sees another dog heading in that direction with such excitement the arm at the other end of the leash could quite possibly end up dislocated!

K9 Coach San Diego Dog Training Camp for Brody turns out to be just what he needed. He’s in his first few days and has been doing well on the leash when there is no other dogs around. He has come a long with distractions that normally would cause his focus to go haywire. Other dogs and puppies, well, he just loses control and is in the beginning stages of getting how to stay calm and on task when he sees them. He’ll master this with his intelligence and the help of a consistent training program.

The first step for any dog in this area is to teach him how to be calm. To do that you need to remain calm yourself. Dogs do pick up on energy before they pick up on anything else and if you find yourself wound up about your dog losing control when seeing another dog, for sure it’s going to happen.

The next step is to work on keeping your dog focused. Brody is starting to realize that his job is to pay attention to me. Lots of practice on sit. Lots of practice on “lets go” while in movement. We do that over and over with little distraction, then practice the same behavior with distraction.

More on how Brody is doing later in the week. In the meantime the practice of being calm in every situation, especially when you are trying to get your dog to be calm can take your dog’s training a long way, and your emotional state to an incredible place.

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

Contact K9 Coach for more about dog training programs and camps, including how to have your dog learn to be calm in real life situations. Simple. No more strict obedience rules... instead, a way of life and a great relationship.

It’s a Beachin Dog Training Camp

Omar, the Curly Coated Retriever is still in his first week of the San Diego Dog Training Camp as you see him here. Hmmm... the perfect setting for training. Trails and the beach. A little swimming, a little hiking. Not bad for a day of learning to be a good dog.

If you have been following Omar’s story, he was one to have freedom of the open space in Ramona not be open to him. For one simple reason.... actually more than one, but the point is... he couldn’t have the freedom of a dog to run off leash, enjoy the trails and the nightly run his owner takes him on because he’d take off in wild abandon.

The chase game seems cute the very first time, and then guess what? ... No longer cute. A real pain actually. So there this rambunctious Curly Coated Retriever was, tethered to an overextended arm that spent most of an outing with him just trying to hang on!

Dogs Are Easily Distracted

Really? Probably what every dog owner out there is thinking while reading that statement!

How did Omar start coming so quickly even an area like Del Mar Dog Beach with other dogs, balls, water, and people with treats around? It really started as simple as getting him to come to me every time without any distraction around. He started in the back yard. He sits. I get a little ways away from him. I call him to him. He comes. Over and over and over again. When he gets that, move further away. When he gets that add a bit of distraction. When he gets that add more distraction. Over and over again! Get it! Good Dog!

People tell me that if their dog would just come to them they could go a lot more places.

As with everything, we tend to try and make everything more difficult than it needs to be. Start with the steps above, and make it that simple. Too much distraction with anything that isn’t well practiced makes all of us fall off focus. Focus on the simplest way to get it done, then practice more distraction from there.

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