Chew Toy Training: My Favorite Tools

Puppies and newly adopted adult dogs don't naturally know what they should and should not chew in the house.  It is our job as responsible owners to get them addicted to chewing the RIGHT things.  Below are a list of my "must have" chew toys.

Chew Toy  #1:  Premier's Busy Buddy "Squirrel Dude"
Use your dog's kibble (dog food) inside the squirrel dude.  The rubber teeth make it harder for your dog to get his kibble out.

Chew Toy #2: Small Sterilized Beef Bone

A small sterilized beef bone is the perfect thing for stuffing yummy treats into.  Use treats such as string cheese, freeze dried liver or cooked chicken.  After a long day of chewing on the bone your dog will have gotten some of the food out of the bone.  At the end of the day use a pen to poke through the bone.  The treats your dog couldn't get will fall out, and you will become your dog's hero.

Chew Toy #3: Omega Paw Treat Ball

Pour your dog's meal into this ball and watch him go crazy trying to get it out.

Chew Toy #4:  Twist and Treat

Unscrew the twist and treat, put your dog's kibble inside, twist the top back on, and watch your dog have some fun.  For small kibble make sure the Twist and Treat is tightly twisted all the way down.

Chew Toy #5: KONG

Stuff the your dog's Kong toy with his kibble and run a trickle of water through the toy for a minute.  Let the soaked kibble sit out overnight.  Then give it to your dog right before you leave for work.  Soaking the kibble makes it more difficult for your dog to get it out.  For teething puppies you can freeze the Kong. Chewing on a frozen Kong feels super good on their swollen gums.

Chew Toy #6: KONG Goodie Bone

Here's another great Kong toy!  Stuff your dog's soaked kibble inside or stuff in special treats like big hunks of string cheese, cooked chicken, and/or freeze dried liver.  If you choose to use kibble the kibble must be really mushy to stay inside.   You can also stuff this with dog biscuits. Put two or three small dog biscuits together to make it really challenging for your dog to get out.

Chew Toys #7 and #8: Petstages Stick and Galileo Bone by Nylabone

Both of these bones are great for teething puppies or bored adult dogs.  

Until next time... Happy Training!

Lessons Learned At The Pond

   I decided to take my dogs for a walk today at Jensen Nature Park.  My dogs have been there many times, and we often practice "Look At That" and our Sit/Stay commands, especially around the ducks.  Today as I was letting Allie Mae out of her crate, her leash slipped through my fingers and she headed.... straight for the pond.
     Before I could react she was in the water swimming with the ducks.  I put the other two dogs back into their crates and went after Allie Mae.  I paced the shoreline calling to her, feeling pretty confident that she would come to me.  She has always had a really good recall. She did not come to me. This was a disaster since dogs are not allowed off leash in the park, and they are certainly not allowed in the pond.  I cursed under my breath and continued to sweetly called out to Allie. She totally blew me off.       Luckily, the people who were feeding the ducks thought it was rather funny that she was so intent on swimming after the ducks.  I was NOT amused.  My dog, who I thought had a rock solid "come", was completely ignoring me.  After about 5 minutes of this I started to get worried.  Although the day was warmer than usual, it was still 32 degrees outside.  This combined with the ice crusted pond, led me to fret over whether she would be okay in the water.  I kept on calling to her, but it did no good.  She was really focused on those ducks.  

       Fifteen minutes later I took my jacket off, and prepared to jump in after her.  The people around me thought that I was crazy, but I could tell that Allie was getting tired.  As luck would have it she decided that she had had enough, and, with some encouragement, started to swim to shore.  I gritted my teeth and gave her lots of praise when she finally came out of the water.  I wanted to ring her neck!!!  I led her to the car and got her into the crate.  The whole way home I was steaming mad.  Allie Mae is a very stubborn girl, and has always been a challenging dog to train.  However, this little stunt took the cake.  What a knuckle headed dog!
     Then I remembered that problems can be training GOLD MINES.  I arrived home; ran into the house, and retrieved my 15 foot leash, her favorite toy, and two dog coats.  I got Allie out of the car and bundled her up in both coats.  Then we headed back to the park.  You read that correctly.  We headed back to the park.
     I decided to walk my other two dogs so that I could mentally cool down before training Allie.  Arrow, Pippin, and I had a great walk with lots of attention stops and sit/stays.  We arrived back at the car 40 minutes later.  I took a deep breath and let Allie out of her crate.  Using the long lead we worked on distance sits at the edge of the pond.  In the end I was able to get Allie to sit about 5 feet away from me while being distracted by the ducks.  Needless to say we will be going back to work on this skill EVERY DAY until she gets it.  I NEVER want a repeat of what happened today at the pond.  I felt totally helpless.  However, the incident served to remind me that training has to be on-going and frequently practiced.  I am confident that I will be able to improve Allie's understanding of sit and down at a distance and will be able to get both commands on a reliable verbal only cue.  If you see me at Jensen Park with a long line and a crazy Golden Retriever, now you'll know why.  Until next time... Happy Training!

Doggie To Do List For 2014: To Do #2

Take a hike!  No.  Really.  Take a hike with your dog!  I have lived in Utah for four years and I have yet to take advantage of all the wonderful hiking trials available around me.  This year is the year of the "hike" for me and my pack.  Here are some of the trails that I would like to hike with my dogs: Big Water Trail in Mill Creek Canyon (pictured left), Neff's Canyon, and Waterfall Canyon.  Luckily I have lots of friends who I am sure would be willing to trek with this amateur hiker.  I can't wait for Spring and Summer.   For more information about the trails mentioned above click on the link below.  Until next time... Happy Training!
http://sportsguidemag.com/index.php/trailsides/401-hiking-with-your-hound

Doggie To Do List for 2014: To Do #1

     This year I will swim with my dogs on a regular basis.  Swimming is such good, low impact exercise for dogs, and is wonderful, exhausting exercise. I have been doing some research and I have found a swimming facility in Salt Lake City that allows dogs to swim all year round.  I will post a review once we have tried it out. If you too are interested in having a splashing good time with your pooch, follow the link below the video. Here's Honey, the Great Dane, showing us how it is done in Auckland, New Zealand.  

Until next time... Happy Training!

http://www.swimatbarleys.com/our-services/indoor-dog-swimming-pool/

Winter Weaves....and other great ideas

     For some dogs weave poles can be the trickiest things to learn.  Teaching dogs to weave requires patience, persistence, and a "party on" attitude.  That's right!  I said a "party on" attitude.  Learning the weaves should be fun.  That's why this agility obstacle is best taught every day in short sessions.  But what to do when there is snow on the ground?  Simple.  Bring those weave poles inside the house!!   I have a set of 2x2's that I store in back of my coat rack. Before winter arrived I was working my dog Pippin's weave poles.  I didin't want the snow to impede our progress.   Storing the poles and base inside allows me to pull them out everyday, and teach my pup Pippin in short, super fun sessions.  Where does the party come in?  I use a toy to reward Pippin at the end of the poles.  There is a linoleum floor just past the poles.  To make sure that Pip doesn't slip and hurt herself I place four rubber backed carpets end to end on the floor.  This allows her to drive to her reward, allowing her to focus on the job instead of my hands.  

     Another fun idea is to teach your dog to go around a traffic cone counter clockwise and clockwise.  I call the clockwise motion a "spin" and the counterclockwise motion a "twist".  This is a really simple trick to teach that will burn lots of mental energy.  After your dog knows the commands verbally, without the use of a hand signal, you can start moving farther back from the cone. Without moving toward the cone to prompt your dog, ask for either a spin or a twist.  Once your dog can do this, ask him for multiple spins and twists.  This is a real energy burner.  

     Teaching your dog to backup and put his hind feet onto a 2-3" book can also be a great way to burn both physical and mental energy.  The command "back up" also teaches spacial awareness, which will, in turn, make it easier to live with your dog.  Do you dislike having a dog underfoot?  Teach him to "back up" and he won't be "underfoot" anymore.  

Until next time... Happy Training!