In-Home Puppy and Dog Training

In-Home Dog Training Published by Alpha Dog Training https://www.alpha-dog-training-slc.com/ 801-910-1700 In-Home training, (training your dog in your home) provides the best possible way to build a dog’s listening skills, which we call “Learning.” Once your dog develops a sense of respect and trust toward you and your family, your dog will be ready to meet and greet the social world with confidence. When we start foundational learning we call this the “Learning Phase” which is learning a new task without distraction and repeating these tasks enough times or repetitions to allow your dog to fully understand your messages. This also means quicker learning experience and a great way to help prepare for more challenges ahead. Once you and your dog have worked through the learning phase, we will then progress to other types of distraction phase learning. Alpha Dog Training would be happy to help you train your puppy or adult dog with love and respect. Feel free to contact us at any time, alpha-dog-training-slc.com, (801) 910-1700.

 

Trivia Time!  How Well Do You Know Your Dog?

 

By Alpha Dog Training of Utah

1. Average dog temperature?
2. Are dogs color blind?
3. According to the AKC, what is the most popular breed?
4. What breed is known as the “nanny dogs”?
5. Where are dogs' sweat glands?
6. What percentage of households own dogs?
7. What is the dangerous ingredient in chocolate for dogs?
8. What is the first thing you should do if you suspect your dog has heat stroke?
9. How many teeth do dogs have?
10. What is the age recorded of the oldest living dog?
    

Answers:

1. A dog’s normal body temperature is 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. It is a myth that dogs are color blind. They can actually see in color, just not as vividly as humans. It is akin to our vision at dusk.
3. The ten most popular dogs (AKC, 2007) are in order: Labrador Retriever, Yorkshire Tierrier, German Shepherd,Golden Retriever, Beagle, Boxer, Dachshund, Poodle, Shih Tzu and Bulldong.
4. Pit bulls were bred to watch over kids - "nanny dogs"!
5. The only sweat glands a dog has are between the paw pads.
6. More than 1 in 3 American families own a dog.
7. Chocolate contains a substance known as theobromine (similar to caffeine) which can kill dogs, or at the very least, make them violently ill.
8. First thing you do if you suspect your dog of heat stroke is call your vet, then wet the underbelly and feet.
9. An adult dog has 42 teeth.
10. The current world record for oldest dog is an Australian Cattle Dog named Bluey, who lived 29 years and 5 months.
11.  Call Alpha Dog Training for more information!  801-910-1700.

 

Crate Training Tips

By Alpha Dog Training of Utah

 

 

 

 

 We probably receive more questions about house training problems than anything else. I wish we had a quick fix, but there just isn't one. 

 

Each puppy learns at its own pace. Some only have one accident in the house, and others may have problems for months or longer unfortunately. The most effective way to transition to house training for puppies is to start on crate training immediately.

 

There are several things that are important in helping puppies succeed. Young puppies are like babies - they often need to use the bathroom every time they wake up, eat, drink or even run across the room. We have noticed that smaller dogs can sometimes have more difficulty than large breed dogs. The key is a combination of patience, consistency and persistence.

 

If a puppy is healthy, and it is living in a climate-controlled environment, it generally shouldn't need food and water continuously throughout the day and evening. (Check with a veterinarian for health issues.) Generally, we feed puppies 2 or 3 times a day and give them water multiple times throughout the day until about 6pm. (If it is hot, and the puppy is spending a lot of time outside, this will need to be adjusted to account for dehydration risks.) Limiting food and water can help them learn to hold it better - instead of needing to go constantly. (The limiting of water is very similar to potty training a toddler - if a toddler is allowed to run around with a sippy cup all day, potty training is going to be very difficult.) Check with your veterinarian if you suspect a health issue. 

 

When choosing a crate, the one used for crate training will probably not be the same one to use forever. This crate doesn't need to give the puppy too much room. Dogs don't normally like to use the bathroom where they sleep, so we want to work with that instinct. If the crate is too big, the puppy will use the bathroom on one side then try to go to the other side to sleep. Many people feel guilty about putting their puppies in crates. 

 

This doesn't have to be forever. With work, many dogs can learn to stay out in the house, but a crate can be comforting for dogs. Many of them learn to see it as a "safe place". The dog can go in the crate to relax. Giving treats and feeding the puppy in its crate will help it learn to acclimate to the crate. We generally recommend that the crate is placed in a separate room away from lots of activity.

Puppies should be allowed to have the opportunity to use the bathroom very frequently. Help prevent accidents, by taking them out very often - even once an hour. This is not always an easy process, but it is what needs to be done. The idea is to catch them before they really need to go.