Should I send My Dog to Boot Camp?

#AlphaDogTraining #dogtrainingsaltlakecity Should I Send My Dog to Boot Camp? Published by Alpha Dog Training https://www.alpha-dog-training-slc.com I can unequivocally tell you without a doubt in my mind that BOOT CAMPS don't work. Your dogs got the way they are because of the way you live with them and their problems are not going to be fixed by someone else. You have to fix the problem yourself if you don't want to see these problems persist. I don't say this with malice – it's a simple fact. You have not established pack structure and the dogs don't respect your leadership. You may think they do but dogs don't do what you describe and respect their handlers. Pack leaders decide when to fight and when to be aggressive – not lower-ranking members of the family pack. This only happens because: • People don't understand the dynamics of pack structure. • People are too small to physically deal with a large dog and don't know what they can do to equal the playing field. • People treat their dogs like little humans and not dogs. Oftentimes, as equals. In the dog world, there are no equals. You're either a leader or a lower-ranking pack member. • People are too lazy to train their dogs. Sending a dog to a BOOT CAMP will result in the dog learning to respect the people who run the camp. But these dogs will always revert to their old selves when they come home. This may not happen in a week or two, but it will always happen. Only when owners learn how to become respected leaders and introduce and enforce OWNERS RULES will their dogs ever change. If you want to solve your problems you can, but it needs to be done by you and your husband. You need to run these dogs through a pack structure program at home. This isn't difficult or time-consuming. It simply means you change the way you live with your dog. The information to solve all of these problems is here for learning. It must be done by you and your husband. Go and read the article on my philosophy of dog training. You will get a better idea of what I am talking about and probably see a little bit of yourself in that article.

My website has a large number of articles that I've written. Go to the main article page and start from there. The bottom line is that people need to educate themselves on correct training, handling, and environmental control of their dogs. When they do things correctly, they will have a safe, submissive dog that is under their control. In conclusion, it is the DOG HANDLER who needs the boot camp, not dogs.

How do I know if My Dog is Overweight?

#AlphaDogTraining #dogtrainingsaltlakecity How Do I Know if My Dog or Cat Is Overweight? Published by Alpha Dog Training https://www.alpha-dog-training-slc.com 1) Feel for ribs “Run your fingers along the ribs, both sides, and see how easily you can palpate those ribs, feel them. In an ideal body-condition score, it should feel like running your fingers over pencils in a breast pocket,” says Purina veterinarian Dr. Zara Boland. Using your hands is important. Looking isn’t enough to determine if your dog or cat is overweight since her coat of may make a visual check difficult. 2) Check the waist “The next thing you want to feel is a nice waistline.” An overweight dog or overweight cat won’t have “an hourglass shape when you look down from above and you can feel that by running your hands along the ribs and they should tuck in as soon as you reach the end of the ribs and come to the waist. It’s ideal body-condition score for us, we want the same for our pets,” says Boland. 3) Take a side view “And the last thing you’re looking for is what we call a tummy-tuck. So,when you view your pet from the side, you want the tummy to tuck up backwards towards the hind legs. We don’t want a hanging belly-we’re looking a nice, neat, tummy-tuck,” says Boland. That said it’s also important to know if your cat or dog’s breed makes them appear overweight. Your veterinarian can provide insight on this. It’s Time to Make Changes If the body check indicates your cat is too large or your dog is overweight, it's time to change the routine and habits you’ve set. Just like you, weight loss for your cat or dog comes down to calories. To shed pounds, your cat will need to burn more calories than she consumes, and your dog will need to do the same. Look to make a change to both diet and exercise for successful results. Reduce calories: Empty calories—ones that do not have health benefit--add up quickly. Select a food that is complete and balanced and cut out all extra calories: • Eliminate table scraps • Limit treats (no more than 10% of daily calories) • Feed foods with balanced nutrition

Increase exercise indoors and outdoors: Cats and dogs both enjoy being active. Stimulate them inside or outside to build muscle strength, burn calories and promote fitness: • Take long walks or run and hike regularly • Create indoor challenges for climbing and jumping • Present stimulating/interactive toys that simulate hunting