Benefits of Kids Growing Up with Dogs

#AlphaDogTraining #dogtrainingsaltlakecity Benefits of Kids Growing Up with Dogs Published by Alpha Dog Training https://alpha-dog-traiing-slc.com (801) 910-1700 Most children love dogs. They're cute, cuddly, and oh-so-friendly. But did you know that growing up with a dog can actually benefit a child's physical and psychological development? Here are some of the many benefits of dogs being in children's lives. 1. Constant Companionship Although childhood isn't always easy, having a pet provides constant companionship through the ups and downs. Dogs can be a great source of comfort for kids — even when they're coming to grips with difficult life lessons. Whenever kids feel sad, angry, or afraid, they can always turn to their pet. Petting and cuddling dogs has also been shown to relieve stress and help people relax. 2. A More Active Lifestyle Caring for a dog also encourages a more active lifestyle. Kids with dogs exercise eleven minutes a day more than their non-dog owning peers. That might not sound like a lot, but over a week or month, it really adds up. Many dogs require daily walks or runs and plenty of play time. Those adorable puppy eyes they give you are sure to motivate you — even when you're not feeling up to it. 3. Learning Responsibility Having a pet is a great way to teach responsibility to kids. Making sure that the family dog has food and water gives children a first glimpse of accountability and obligation. Children also learn empathy and compassion by caring for their pet, while developing a higher level of self-esteem by taking care of their pet-owning responsibilities. 4. Health Is Wealth Studies have found that babies raised in close contact with a pet get sick less often in their first year of life, meaning fewer visits to the doctor's office. Exposure to pet dander and the microbes that pets carry into the home from the outdoors is suggested to improve babies' developing immune systems. Research has also found that children who grow up with dogs experience a reduced risk of allergies. 5. Don't Worry, Be Happy! Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of dogs in early childhood is simply that they make children happy! Interaction with animals has been proven to raise levels of serotonin and dopamine, which are the chemical building blocks of positive feelings. All science aside, playing and interacting with dogs is just plain fun — and it's bound to brighten any kid's day. Growing up with a dog can enrich the lives of children in so many ways. Having a dog join your family may be one of the greatest gifts we can give our kids.

Tips for Training Your Apartment Puppy

#AlphaDogTraining #dogtrainingsaltlakecity Tips for Training Your Apartment Puppy Published by Alpha Dog Training https://alpha-dog-training-slc.com (801) 910-1700

For your puppy, living in an apartment isn’t just having a different amount of space. It’s a different way of life. Make it easy on them… and you… with these tips. Make room for playtime. Outdoor space will be limited in an apartment complex, so scope out the territory for parks and available grass for walks and play. Be sure to take waste-scooping materials when you and your puppy head outside. If your pup will stay mostly indoors, make a designated play space he can get used to. Keep toys in the house in one place, like in a basket in the corner, to help maintain and define the space. Commit to training. Training is very important to make your puppy a good neighbor and to help keep him safe. Immediate obedience to commands like "Down" and "Come" may keep your pup safe if he slips out of his collar or his leash is dropped in a busy area, especially one with lots of car traffic. Keep clean. No one wants to live with someone who smells. Bathe your pup as necessary (remembering that puppies require fewer baths than humans). Brush your puppy regularly, getting rid of hair or fur, to prevent excessive shedding. Establish boundaries. Don’t allow your new puppy, as cute as he may be, to sleep on your bed. Your pup should know to go to his crate or other bed area at night. This will help communicate what is your space and it will keep your bed clean. Be prepared for loud noises. Puppies are often startled by the unpredictable nature of urban areas. Help reassure your puppy that urban sights and sounds are not threatening. Remain calm and "happy" when unexpected and startling things happen, such as sirens and other noise. Praise and help reinforce your puppy's positive, controlled behavior in these situations. With proper care, training, and management, even seemingly unlikely breeds and breed mixes can cope with urban living. Although puppies need room to run, what’s more important is the quality of your interaction and attention.

Ring the Bell to Go Potty!

#AlphaDogTraining #dogtrainingsaltlakecity Ring That Bell to go Potty! Published by Alpha Dog Training https://alpha-dog-training-slc.com (801) 910-1700 A great and fun way to house train your dog is to train her to communicate to you when she needs to go out to potty is by teaching her to ring a potty train bell. This is best taught after your dog seems to prefer to go outside to potty and you would like to give her a good way to communicate that to you. The dog bell works especially well for dogs who only have only a few accidents or have accidents by the door. Teaching your dog to ring a bell prevents her from needing to resort to such "uncivilized" behavior as scratching on the door or barking to tell you to let her out. Here's how to train your dog to ring a bell to go outside to potty: Intro to the bell: Show your dog the bell. If she touches it with her nose, give her a treat. Once she is touching her nose to the bell every time you show it to her, go on to the next step. Put the bell away when you are not practicing with it. Ringing the bell: Show her the bell and only feed her a treat when she rings the bell by touching it. Once she is ringing it every time you show it to her, go on to the next step. Put the bell away when you are not practicing with it. Ringing the bell by the door: Hang the bell by the door that you want your dog to use to go out and show her the bell. Give her a treat when she rings it. Once she is ringing the bell by the door each time you point to it, go on to the next step. Put the bell away when you are not practicing with it. Ringing the bell by the door to go out for a treat: Put your bell by the door. Let her watch you as you place a treat outside the door. Close the door and then point to the bell. When she rings the bell, open the door and let her get the treat. Once she rings the bell right away when you place a treat outside go on to the next step. Leave the bell in place by the door. Real life!: Next time you think she has to potty, go with her to the door and point to the bell. When she rings it, open the door and let her potty. Reward her with a treat when she finishes. Each time you let her out to potty, ask her to ring the bell first and feed her a treat when she finishes. Maintenance phase: Leave the bell on the door and when she rings it let her out to potty. If she starts to play or dawdle outside, bring her in. This will prevent her from ringing the bell when she sees a squirrel (or at least prevent her from learning that she can get you to let her out to play instead of just to potty) I hope these instructions help you to train your dog to ring a bell to let you know when he or she needs to go out and speeds your house training efforts. If you liked this article, we would really appreciate it if you would consider becoming one of our customers or sharing this article with a friend! Thanks!

Teach Your Dog to "Look" on Command

#AlphaDogTraining #dogtrainingsaltlakecity Teach Your Dog to “Look” on Command Published by Alpha Dog Training https:/www.alpha-dog-training-slc.com (801) 910-1700 "Look" is a useful command for helping your dog acclimate to a new situation or environment. Is your dog easily distracted? Does he spend your entire walk lunging at squirrels and barking at people? Is he unable to to pass a brightly colored umbrella or a playing child without wanting to investigate? If your dog’s curiosity is slowing down your walks, there’s a solution. Training your dog to “look” on command can help keep him focused on where he’s going without missing any of the excitement that’s happening around him. Training your dog to look in the direction of something novel, interesting or possibly even slightly unnerving may sound nonsensical. Why draw your dog’s attention to something that may excite or even upset him? When you teach your dog to “look,” you also train him to return his attention to you. This can help to make novel situations more predictable and give your dog a way to focus and avoid overreacting to something that might be scary or stressful — or just super exciting — for him. Look Over There! Hold an object your dog will be interested in — like a chew toy or a ball — behind your back, where your dog cannot see it. A toy with a squeaker or rattle can be helpful for catching your dog’s attention. You can also wiggle or wave the toy gently to catch his eye. Ask your dog to look at you; once he is making eye contact, pull the hidden item out and hold it out to your side, away from where your dog is looking. Immediately mark and reward any glance or movement your dog makes in the direction of the object. When you reward him, give the treat in such a way that your dog has to turn back toward you (and away from the exciting toy) to get his reward. To do this, hold the treat directly in front of your legs, at the level of the dog’s nose. This helps to reinforce the idea of looking at something and then shifting attention back to you, which is exactly what you’re trying to teach him. Next, add a verbal cue —“look” — to the behavior. Say the word just as your dog starts to turn his head in the direction of the item. You can also watch your dog’s body language and note when he’s getting ready to turn toward the object. Eventually, you want to be able to use the “look” cue to point out interesting things before your dog sees them for himself.

Tips on Teaching Your Kids About Dogs

#AlphaDogTraining #dogtrainingsaltlakecity Tips on Teaching Your Kids About Dogs Published by Alpha Dog Training https://www.alpha-dog-training-slc.com (801) 910-1700 The family dog is often not properly prepared for the arrival of a newborn resulting in the dog becoming isolated or rehomed. In recent years, the number of child dog bites has risen. Keep your baby safe by learning the warning signs to watch for when your dog is around your baby. Approximately one million dog bites occur every year in the United States – according to a study 60-70% of those involve children, boys are bitten more often than girls and a third of the dogs that attack children are owned by the family. A study that 87% of biting dogs are intact males and most dog bites occur in or near the victims home. Another study indicated that 70% of the children that were killed by dogs were under the age of 10 and 22% were under the age of one year with 7% being sleeping infants. What Parents Need to Teach Their Children 1. NEVER disturb any dog who is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies. 2. NEVER pet a dog, even your own, without letting him see and sniff you first. 3. Children must always ASK PERMISSION from the owner and their parents BEFORE petting any dog. I never allowed my children near strange dogs much less pet them. 4. If the owner cannot control the dog and have it SIT nicely for the child to pet, WALK AWAY. 5. NEVER approach a dog who is confined behind a fence, within a car, or on a chain. 6. NEVER TEASE any dog by poking at them through fences or car windows or reaching your arm through to pet them. 7. NEVER approach a strange dog you don't know or a dog who is not with his owner. 8. NEVER RUN away from a dog that is chasing you. STOP, STAND STILL, REMAIN CALM, ARMS AT YOUR SIDES, be quiet and DO NOT SCREAM. Walk away SLOWLY FACING THE DOG BUT NOT STARING AT its eyes. 9. If a dog attacks, "feed" him your jacket, a school book, a bicycle, or anything else that you can get between you and the dog. 10. If you are attacked, STOP, CURL UP IN A BALL LIKE A TURTLE, COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR ARMS AND HANDS. 11. Do not chase after dogs. 12. Do not scream and be loud around dog. 13. Children should not stare into the eyes of a dog. 14. If a dog starts to circle you - turn with it, don't let it get behind you. 15. If the dog shows aggressive behavior (barking or growling) put something between you and the dog - like a a chair. 16. Just because a dog wags its tail does not mean its friendly. 17. Always ask the owner of a dog if it is OK to pet their dog. 18. If you are in the area of a stray dog - leave that area. 19. If a dog approaches you remain calm and motionless. Keep your hands at your side. Speak with a soothing voice. 20. If a dog is injured do not touch or try and help it. Go get an adult. If you own any dog, but especially a dog that has had the smallest amount of aggression or protection training it is your moral and legal obligation to make sure that you do everything possible to ensure that your dog is never in a situation where it could bite a child.

Teach Your Dog to Take Foods Gently

#AlphaDogTraining #dogtrainingsaltlakecity Train Your Dog to Take Foods Gently Published by Alpha Dog Training https://www.alpha-dog-training-slc.com (801) 910-1700 The danger in working on this is if your dog doesn't get the treat right away, your dog may get more frustrated and grab harder for it the next time. If you use the following tips to avoid getting your dog frustrated you will want to start with feeding your pup the treat for all but the most rough grabs (say one in 5) and then gradually start getting pickier as your dog improves. This will go faster if you feed kibble by hand (no tricks required) using the following technique: • Get your dog’s food bowl with kibble in it. • Hold out a piece of kibble in a way that you can keep it if she bites down hard. • If your dog mouths hard say "ouch" very loud and put the kibble back in the bowl and put the bowl up for a minute or two. • Repeat Repeat Repeat. • Make sure you are not doing the ouch routine for more than 1 in 5 times of offering the kibble. • Begin to get more and more sensitive (making sure that your dog gets the treat 4 out of 5 times still). • Once your dog is doing great for this, try working on it in other contexts. • While you are working on this with her food bowl, I suggest that for training and other times you feed treats, deliver the treat in a way that will just avoid the possibility of her mouthing you hard (toss it perhaps) until you are getting progress with her meal.

What to Teach Your Kids About Dogs

#AlphaDogTrainng #dogtrainingsaltlakecity What You Need to Teach Your Kids About Dogs Published by Alpha Dog Training https://www.alpha-dog-training-slc.com (801)910-1700 According to a 1994 study approximately one million dog bites occur every year in the United States – according to the study 60-70% of those involve children, boys are bitten more often than girls and a third of the dogs that attack children are owned by the family. 87% of biting dogs are intact males and most dog bites occur in or near the victim’s home. 70% of the children that were killed by dogs were under the age of 10 and 22% were under the age of one year with 7% being sleeping infants. What You Need to Teach Your Kids 1. NEVER disturb any dog who is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies. 2. NEVER pet a dog, even your own, without letting him see and sniff you first. 3. Children must always ASK PERMISSION from the owner and their parents BEFORE petting any dog. I never allowed my children near strange dogs much less pet them. 4. If the owner cannot control the dog and have it SIT nicely for the child to pet, WALK AWAY. 5. NEVER approach a dog who is confined behind a fence, within a car, or on a chain. 6. NEVER TEASE any dog by poking at them through fences or car windows or reaching your arm through to pet them. 7. NEVER approach a strange dog you don't know or a dog who is not with his owner. 8. NEVER RUN away from a dog that is chasing you. STOP, STAND STILL, REMAIN CALM, ARMS AT YOUR SIDES, be quiet and DO NOT SCREAM. Walk away SLOWLY FACING THE DOG BUT NOT STARING AT its eyes. 9. If a dog attacks, "feed" him your jacket, a school book, a bicycle, or anything else that you can get between you and the dog. 10. If you are attacked, STOP, CURL UP IN A BALL LIKE A TURTLE, COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR ARMS AND HANDS. 11. Do not chase after dogs. 12. Do not scream and be loud around dog. 13. Children should not stare into the eyes of a dog. 14. If a dog starts to circle you - turn with it, don't let it get behind you. 15. If the dog shows aggressive behavior (I.e. barking or growling) put something between you and the dog - like a a chair. 16. Just because a dog wags its tail does not mean its friendly. 17. Always ask the owner of a dog if it is OK to pet their dog. 18. If you are in the area of a stray dog - leave that area. 19. If a dog approaches you remain calm and motionless. Keep your hands at your side. Speak with a soothing voice. 20. If a dog is injured do not touch or try and help it. Go get an adult. Eliminating dog bites begins with proper management of the pet by the owner. It's the owner’s responsibility to make sure that his dog is properly obedience trained and properly contained. Proper management is the first step in eliminating dog bites.

How Dogs Keep You Healthy

#AlphaDogTraining #dogtrainingsaltlakecity How Dogs Keep You Healthy Published by Alpha Dog Training (801) 910-1700 Dogs, often hailed as humans’ best friends, have been the topic of many scientific studies looking into how they might boost our well-being. We’ll explain how your friendly pup can benefit your health across the board. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), an estimated 78 million dogs are owned as pets in the United States. It is unclear when dogs were first domesticated, but a study published last year claims that, at least in Europe, dogs were tamed 20,000–40,000 years ago. It is likely that humans and dogs have shared a special bond of friendship and mutual support ever since at least the Neolithic period — but why has this bond been so long-lasting? Of course, these cousins of the wolves have historically been great at keeping us and our dwellings safe, guarding our houses, our cattle, and our various material goods. Throughout history, humans have also trained dogs to assist them with hunting, or they have bred numerous quirky-looking species for their cuteness or elegance. However, dogs are also — and might have always been — truly valued companions, famed for their loyalty and seemingly constant willingness to put a smile on their owners’ faces. How dogs keep you in good health Many studies have suggested that having dogs as pets is associated with better health. Dogs ‘force’ their owners to take daily exercise. A study that showed that owning a dog reduces a person’s risk of premature death by up to a third. Also, researchers suggest that dog owners have a lower risk of heart disease. Why is that? It is difficult to establish a causal relationship between owning a dog and enjoying better health. However, the benefits may appear thanks to a series of factors related to lifestyle adjustments that people tend to make after they decide to adopt a canine friend. The most prominent such lifestyle factor is physical activity. There is no way around it: if you own a dog, you have to commit to twice daily walks — and sometimes even more. Happy dog owning!

How to Introduce Your Dog to a New Pup

#AlphaDogTraining #dogtrainingsaltlakecity Introducing Your Pup to Other Dogs Published by Alpha Dog Training https://alpha-dog-training-slc.com (801) 910-1700 Have you ever seen dogs meet for the first time? A positive first meeting is no accident. Did you know there are ways owners can set their dogs up for successful social interaction? Keep reading to learn how to introduce dogs to new pets and people. Tips for socializing your dog Dogs have unique personalities. Some are more social than others. But dogs can also be trained to get along with other dogs, animals and people. Socializing a dog works best when you: • Start young • Create a safe environment • Make socializing a priority • Watch for signs of stress or distress • Develop opportunities to try introductions No matter what your dog's age, it's never too late to learn how to socialize your dog. Here are some ideas to try every day: • Play games with your dog like "fetch" to teach your dog body language and sharing. • Interact with other dogs to help your dog interact appropriately. • Observe your dog’s emotional state (Behaviors like cowering and tail-tucking indicate he's overwhelmed.) • Reward good behavior. Progress deserves praise your dog will recognize. Puppy socialization Just like children, puppies go through key developmental periods. Their brains are busy learning about the big world around them. So, starting young will help your puppy develop social skills for life. The sensitive period for puppies begins at about 3 weeks of age and lasts until about 12 weeks of age. During this period, it is important to expose your puppy to a lot of new experiences. Some ideas on how to socialize a puppy include opportunities to: • Meet new people • Meet other dogs (and cats, too) • Visit new places • Get comfortable around children To a puppy, children may just seem like small humans that make funny noises and unpredictable movements. That's why it's especially important to introduce your puppy to children during this period. That way your puppy will the learn the differences between children and adults.

How to Stop Your Puppy From Biting

#AlphaDogTraining #dogtrainingsaltlakecity Stop Your Puppy from Biting Published by Alpha Dog Training of Utah (801) 910-1700 Want to teach your puppy to stop biting you? Puppies nip to play, to get attention and because they are teething. The good news is that almost puppies grow out of nipping naturally. It is very important to avoid getting frustrated and resorting to punishments / corrections which could damage your relationship down the road. It is also important to teach your puppy how delicate human skin is, so let her experiment a bit and to give her feedback (say "yipe!" and remove your attention) when your puppy bites too hard. If you get more and more sensitive to nips she will soon find that humans are very sensitive and respond accordingly with her teeth. We're in luck! Puppy nipping is a very easy to stop because we KNOW what the pup wants - to play and chew! So, give her lots of available chew toys and then whenever she nips, walk away from her and ignore her (if she follows nipping at your heels you need to use a tie back, time out or gate). And when she's gentle stay and play. Don't forget: This too will pass! Want more details about what do you do with that cute little shark? PREVENT Always have a toy in your hand to play with your puppy so she can make a correct choice (unless you are doing the practice in #2) . Exercise your puppy to get rid of excess energy (1 hour per day). Make sure your puppy is getting enough rest (12 hours per day) . Have lots of great chew toys around to get her through teething (frozen wet rags, frozen raw marrow bones). Don't leave kids and dogs unattended. Teach kids not to run and scream from nipping puppies but to quietly walk away or stop moving. Use a tie-back (only under supervision), gate or time-out area more frequently as a management tool if the above is not working. Sometimes bitter spray on clothing can help ease nipping at clothing and shoes. TEACH Tie your puppy back or put her in a room with a gate that you can quickly climb over or open. Begin playing with her. Praise her for being gentle, but when she nips say "yipe" (like a puppy would) and quickly walk away. Wait 1 minute. Return and give her another try. Practice in 2-3 minute sessions with each family member taking a turn. The tie-back method also works well for other attention getting behaviors such as jumping up, barking and humping. Happy Training!

Introducing a New Dog to Your Baby

#AlphaDogTraining #dogtrainingsaltlakecity Introducing Your Dog to a New Baby Published by Alpha Dog Training (801) 910-1700 Bringing home your new baby is an exciting time. It can also mean a lot of change for your dog. You can help your four-legged family member adjust with some planning and preparation. Read on to learn how to introduce your pet to a baby. Why is preparing your dog for a baby important? Your pet is part of the family. Bringing a new baby home can cause a disruption in your pet's daily life. Think about it from your pet's perspective. Suddenly there's another human, only smaller, with sounds, smells and moves that are different from yours. This can be distressing for your pet. Your dog may associate this stress with the baby, and that negative impression can last. That's why it's important to prepare both dogs and cats for your baby's arrival home. Before introducing your dog to the baby, it's especially important to start making gradual changes before bringing your baby home. 5 ways to prepare your dog for the baby It's best to make gradual changes in your pet’s routine rather than abrupt changes when the baby arrives. Fortunately, pregnancy gives you several months to prepare your pet for your baby’s arrival. • Adjust your pet’s routine to one you can keep consistent • Carve out special one-on-one times with your pet • Brush up on obedience training for your dog • Create a few pet-free zones in the house • Introduce your dog to baby equipment like strollers There are a few reasons dogs need more time to adjust to change in your home. Dogs typically have a set routine. Likely, all of that will change once the baby arrives. A new routine, along with new sounds and smells could be upsetting to your dog. That's why it's important to take the time to prepare your dog for your new baby. Tips for bringing baby home If mom comes into the house alone, it will give pets time to say hi without them jumping up on the baby. After that, bring the baby inside to a pet-free room so your dog or cat can smell and hear the sounds your baby makes. For dogs especially, it can be helpful to make introductions with a helper bringing the dog into a neutral room on a leash where you are sitting holding the baby. This gives your dog the opportunity to approach you and the baby calmly. A new baby is a new experience for your dog • Reward your pet for calm behavior with praise and special treats. • Give your dog plenty of attention when the baby is in the room. Your pet will associate positive experiences with the baby. • Never leave your pet alone with the baby, no matter how easy-going or friendly your pet may be. A well-planned, positive introduction will help your dog and your new baby develop a deep and loving bond that can last a lifetime.

5 Questions You Should Ask Your Dog Trainer

#AlphaDogTraining #dogtrainerssaltlakecity 5 Questions You Should Ask Your Dog Trainer Published by Alpha Dog Training (801) 910-1700 Believe it or not, the dog training world is completely unregulated. There are no requirements or licenses needed. There is no one checking in to make sure the services being provided are ethical and humane. To make things worse, in our beautiful state of Utah, there is no kennel inspection process which leaves little protection for you or your dog should things go wrong with your trainer. Unfortunately, meeting with the wrong dog trainer or having your dog subjected to the wrong techniques can lead to life-long damage. And the pieces aren’t very fun to pick up. Here are the 5 things I think are the MOST important to ask your dog trainer when you meet them: 1. How many years have you been working in the field of dog training and/or behavior? 1. Always ask your trainer how long they’ve been practicing. I want to know a dog trainer’s history and how much experience they have in behavior modification. You want to know how much experience your trainer has producing positive behavior change results in their career. Does their experience match what you are seeking? 2. What type of dog training have you done? There are tons of different fields withing the dog training community, from competition obedience and agility, to nosework and search and rescue, working dogs, such as police K9’s, to pet dog basic obedience training to behavior modification of aggression, fear based behaviors and more. 1. You want to make sure the trainer you are working with has experience dealing with the problem behaviors or goals you are seeking to achieve. For example, a highly experienced police K9 trainer may not actually be qualified to work with aggression. A trainer such as myself would not be qualified to teach a competition agility course. An ethical trainer will refer out cases they do not meet the criteria to see. 3. What type of preliminary education in learning theory, behavior analysis, animal husbandry, and ethology do you have? 1. Having “lived and worked with dogs all my life” and I took a course with “so and so famous trainer” doesn’t cut it, unfortunately. In a time in which we can teach tigers to let us trim their nails through positive reinforcement, it’s silly to have animal trainers out there who don’t have a solid educational background in the animals they are training. 2. 3. The trainer you are working with should have a degree in psychology or animal behavior (not just science) in addition to canine husbandry and ethology, or a certification(s) that demonstrates their knowledge in all of these areas. If the trainer you are working with does not have a solid understanding in all of the above categories, they may be missing important components of a comprehensive training plan. 4. What do you use to reinforce and reward correct behavior? 1. An experienced and qualified trainer will be able to assess your dog’s personal wants and desires. Yes, food is always a primary reinforcement tool, but there are many other motivators that can help your dog feel successful with training. Praise, play, sniffing, and running are just some examples. Your trainer should be able to access all of these reinforcers to be able to produce and train you to get the most desired behavior from your dog. 2. 5. What if my dog makes a mistake? 1. An experienced and qualified trainer will assess your dog’s environment and teach you the best way to set them up for success first and foremost. They should also be able to foresee situations that may arise with your dog, and teach your dog alternate behaviors, so you are prepared with a positive reinforcement approach in “uh-oh moments,” while you are working on modifying the initial problem behavior. 2. Your dog trainer should avoid the use of punishment (physical or emotional intimidation). Punishment is confusing, harmful and sometimes detrimental to a positive outcome and emotional well being of the learner. The fallout of the use of punishment…yes, even something as simple as a squirt bottle- is usually not worth it. 3. Alpha Dog Training of Utah has the answers! Feel free to contact us at any time, (801) 910-1700.

Your Puppy's First Visit to the Vet

#AlphaDogTraining #dogtrainingsaltlakecity Your Puppy’s First Visit to the Vet Published by Alpha Dog Training https://www.alpha-dog-training-slc.com/ (801) 910-1700 Some people may not realize this, but getting a puppy spells a three-way relationship between you, your puppy, and your veterinarian. After all, pet care doesn’t stop when your puppy reaches a certain age or when he seems to be healthy and in shape. And making the first visit a positive one goes a long way in creating a good experience for your dog each time they visit the vet. But what can you do to make the experience positive for your puppy? Your puppy’s first visit is a great example of how to handle the fears your puppy might experience at their visit. Below we have a bunch of tips for you on how to do this How to Help Your Dog Be Less Fearful of the Veterinarian • Make sure your puppy or dog likes or at least accepts being touched. Handle your puppy or dog’s paws, mouth, ears etc and make it a pleasurable experience by pairing it with something your dog loves, such as food. When it comes time to being handled by a vet, the sensation should not be unpleasant • • Take your dog to the veterinarian but not for a procedure. Have the receptionists, vet techs and veterinarians give your dog his favorite food or toy and build up a pleasant association with their presence. • • Try to stay with your dog as much as possible for procedures. There might be procedures that have to be done away from you but you will give your dog much more confidence if you are there to comfort him. • • Take tasty treats with you and give them to your dog while you are waiting. If your dog is too stressed he might not feel like eating. • • If your dog likes being touched give him a massage to relax him. Long, gentle strokes should bring down his stress levels. • • Be calm because the more stressed you are the more your dog will feel it. • • Play calming music to your dog, which helps reduce anxiety. • • Ask your vet about hosting puppy play parties so that pups build up a positive association with the environment. • • If your dog is too stressed you might have to give him a sedative to calm him down before you leave for his appointment. Be your dog’s voice. Don’t be afraid to speak up. If your vet holds your fearful dog down in order to perform a procedure, without helping your dog feel more comfortable first, then you can potentially have years of work ahead of you to undo the damage that may happen. You have the right to take things slow when possible. Alpha Dog Training can work with you to develop a plan that works. Contact us at Alpha Dog Training slc.com or (801) 910-1700 with any questions you may have – we have trained puppies and adult dogs for more than 20 years and we would love to help!

Obedience Takes Time

#AlphaDogTraining #dogtrainingsaltlakecity Obedience Training Takes Time Published by Alpha Dog Training https://www.alpha-dog-traiin-slc.com (801) 910-1700 After people watch me perform an obedience demo with one of my dogs I like to ask them how long they think I spend with my dog on training. I typically get answers anywhere from 1 to 2 hours a day. People are often shocked to learn that I might spend 1-2 hours a week total training. 1-2 hours a week training your dog is something we should all be able to meet. To reach a high performance in obedience routines the owner must invest in the dog daily. Compounding results- small investments pay exponentially. Neither you nor any trainer can train your dog in 7 or 8 one hour sessions. The secret to amazing results is to apply your obedience to your daily life and try to make all interaction with your dog an exercise in obedience. You must always go first! Make them look to you for permission before going outside, before coming inside, requiring permission before getting on furniture, or waiting patiently before being released to eat the meal or get their treat. If you make permissive obedience the routine through all interactions with your dog you will begin to notice increasing levels of attention and performance. When your dog is exposed to new distractions of stimulus you will notice them looking to you for permission to go check things out. Repetition and consistency are the keys to success. Before you know it you will be watching your dog do things before you ask for them, they will be waiting for that invitation to get on the furniture or waiting by an open door waiting for you to give them permission to go outside. It’s a communication change, a process. A process takes time. A process takes commitment. A process that will pay you a great reward in building your relationship.

How to Stop Puppy Biting

#AlphaDogTraining #dogtrainingsaltlakecity How to Stop Your puppy From Biting Published by Alpha Dog Training https://www.alpha-dog-training-slc.com (801) 910-1700 It’s puppy season! This is the time us dog trainers see a huge increase in clients, especially puppy clients. The weather is warm, the kids are still out of school and what better time to get a puppy so they can have summer adventures together, right? Maybe not so much. We’ve all heard it a million times; puppies are a huge responsibility. As adults we should be able to handle this responsibility, right? Well, to be honest, puppies are not for the fate of heart. Puppies bite, pee, poop, whine at all hours of the night and in general get into trouble. If you’re adopting a puppy soon you should know that puppies are difficult. The number one complaint I hear from new puppy owners is biting! You would think it would be housebreaking, chewing, or keeping their owners up at night, but nope! It’s puppy biting and teething that I get the most complaints about. Be realistic. All puppies are going to chew on something. If you can’t handle this then you may consider not getting a pup. So, Why Is Your Puppy Biting You? If you have a younger puppy and they’re “play biting” it could be for a few reasons. 1. You have mistakenly reinforced the biting behavior and made the puppy think this behavior is desired. 2. Your puppy is teething because they are feeling discomfort as their adult teeth come in. 3. Your puppy is going through their oral phase. 4. Your puppy is bored and biting gets you to interact with them and relieve their boredom. Many owners mistakenly reinforce play biting in puppies by swatting their puppy away, using corrections which lead to the puppy getting attention or they play with the puppy with their hands. Puppies do not always understand what these interactions mean and can mistake them to be play or encouragement to continue the behavior. When you have children, they can also be an issue because you have to teach them how to react to the puppy’s biting as well. Any reinforcement will help the behavior survive to see another day. We can solve the reinforcement of the behavior by “ignoring” the biting. You want to become as boring as you possibly can and stop everything when your puppy starts biting. Be perfectly still and quiet. Don’t interact with the puppy until the biting has stopped then offer them a toy to chew on instead. We want the puppy to realize that biting ends attention, play time, and fun. When they bite they don’t get what they want. There is no need to say “no” or get out the spray bottle. Ignoring the behavior can be “correction” enough. We want zero interaction or movement that could be mistaken as play. We want to replace your hands with something even more fun as well! So, that means playing with toys instead. If your puppy is biting your hand, make your hand “boring”and then wave a toy around to make the toy even more interesting so you can escape with all your fingers. We should be showing the puppy what is okay to chew on. Ideally though, you should have a toy nearby and be playing with the toy before the biting starts. When your puppy is playing nicely without biting, you can continue your play. I highly suggest only playing with your puppy with toys, not your hands. They are unable to understand sometimes they can play with your hands, other times they cannot. What if Your Puppy is Just Teething? If your puppy is teething or going through their oral phase you will have to wait it out. Have plenty of toys especially rubber toys or toys with bumps or the ability to massage their gums. Try to understand your puppy may be feeling discomfort if teething. Allowing your puppy to chew on ice cubes while supervised can also help relieve some discomfort. You should show them what toys you would like them to chew on instead of your hands by offering them a toy instead. Make the toy very interesting but again your hands should become “boring” the second the puppy starts chewing on you. Puppy biting is the worst but hang in there! It’s only for a short period of time and I have faith you can survive the horrors of puppyhood!

Stop That Barking

#AlphaDogTraining #dogtrainingsaltlakecity Stop That Barking Published by Alpha Dog Training https://alpha-dog-trainiing-slc.com/ (801) 910-1700 Cows moo. Cats meow. Dog bark. Sometimes, dogs bark way too much, and that can become a problem. But it’s not as difficult a problem to solve as a lot of people think. I don’t think anyone wants their dog to never bark. A little barking at the right time can be very useful, whether it’s to alert you to someone or something approaching your home, or to scare away threats when you’re not there. The trick is to get to the right zone of barking -- not to little, not too much, but just right. You might be surprised to hear it, but getting to “just right” is probably a lot easier than you think. Before you can get to the fix for any problem, you have to understand the causes. In the case of barking, it can be either wanted or unwanted, so the first question to answer is why dogs even bark in the first place. Simply put, they bark to communicate, particularly in situations where they cannot immediately see the rest of the pack or when they want to get a message to the entire pack. In the wild, the message can be a warning of danger or a call to the hunt. When it comes from the dogs at the front of the pack, it can a way to scare off a threat. In the wild, though, dogs don’t bark all the time. In fact, they don’t bark a lot. They save it for when they really need it. But when your dog barks constantly at home, what is it they need? So, when a domesticated dog barks all day, what are they trying to communicate? Generally, if they do it when no one is home, it’s a sign of boredom or frustration. It can also be their way of trying to call you back, especially if the dog is experiencing separation anxiety. The other causes, whether there are people at home or not, can be excess energy, which a dog will try to burn off through excitement and hyperactivity; or it can be due to anxiety, which leads to the dog perceiving every little noise as a possible threat to be scared away. It may seem like something that’s impossible to control, but you have to remember why dogs bark in the first place. Communication. And what is it that one dog will try to communicate to another, or to its human alpha leader? Needs. Meet the underlying need, and the excess barking will stop. Maybe that sounds easier said than done. But, in reality it is actually done fairly easily. It just requires focus, commitment, and consistency on your part. It begins with correcting the unwanted barking when it happens with whatever method works for your dog, whether it’s a touch, a startling sound or something else. The commitment and consistency mean that you have to be ready and willing to continue the corrections until the behavior stops, and you have to always correct it when your dog barks inappropriately and you’re there. There’s another “C” that goes with commitment and consistency, and that is “calm.” As with any correction, you have to remain calm and assertive. If you get angry or impatient, this will just amp up your dog’s energy and make barking more likely.