High-Energy Dogs

#AlphaDogTraining #dogtrainingsaltlakecitiy Tips on Dealing with High-Energy Dogs Published by Alpha Dog Training https://www.alpha-dog-training-slc.com The alarm goes off at 5:30am…BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! My face, still buried in the pillow, reluctantly rises just enough to allow my arm to reach out in desperation to hit the snooze button. There. Peace. This is the root of many client frustrations I experience as a professional dog trainer and coach. Many of my new clients with super high energy, destructive dogs often admit to me that they attempted some sort of management/containment training with their dog, but not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and losing copious amounts of sleep, they gave up. Somehow, this started the slide down the slippery slope where the dog was then allowed to sleep loose, which led to destructive behavior or accidents. So, the dog was put outside more to “burn off energy”, which led to barking dog complaints by the neighbor, barrier frustration, and so on. So, the client attempted to walk the dog, only to be further frustrated by a barking, unruly dragon at the end of the leash. Never fear. It all goes back to basics first. While your new issue may be leash walking, it likely all stems with energy and behavior management around the home. By creating an energy burn plan for your energetic pooch in conjunction with training, you can get that adorable, furry monster under control. Here are some tips to help you out: Tip 1: A Tired Dog is a Good Dog A tired dog is a good dog! A treadmill is a GREAT way to burn off a little extra energy before bedtime, on rainy days, or when you simply have a dog who needs a little extra burn before their daily excursions. I WALK my dogs predominately on the treadmill. The idea is not to get their fitness level so high that it exceeds your energy level, but to burn off a bit of energy in a slow, controlled fashion. Twenty minutes of “walkie time” as I call it on a treadmill will prepare you and your dog for a more enjoyable hike later in the day. Think of it as a warm up. You might add five minutes of trotting to get the tongue lolling, but mostly calm walking is best to condition a relaxed mind. Tip 2: Teach Your Dog Patience Teach your dog the concept of patience. We tend to go places. We always have a destination. In horse training there is a method of tying a horse on what is called a patience pole. They simply learn the skill of doing nothing for long periods affixed to a pole sunk in the ground. In dog training, your dog needs to learn to be patient and relaxed while on leash. YOU can be the patience pole. If it can be done with a thousand-pound animal, surely we can teach Fido to just wait. Do nothing. Go no where. Coffee shop patios are great for this. Also, teach your dog to be patient and travel in a crate. They exit the vehicle calmer in most cases and allow you to get your equipment organized before the dog exits the vehicle so you aren't in a mad rush. If you are rushing because your dog is wound up, who is in the driver's seat? Tip 3: Make a Training Box Get the equipment to help you accomplish these things. Make a training box or bag. Training leashes, collars, Bitter Apple Spray for barking, squirt bottles, treats are all part of my training box. You may need a pro to help you properly implement their use and perfect techniques, but without the right gear you are wasting your time. Tip 4: Double Up with Exercise + Patience Pick three to four activities lasting an hour or more to do with your dog each week to burn exercise, then practice being a patience pole during that activity for 15 of those minutes. Hiking, biking, trip to the beach or lake, field trip to Petsmart or Home Depot, etc. Don't wait to do your training until you have to make a vet appointment, or when your child is playing in a soccer game. Practice before you need the skills. With a high-energy dog, you may need to treadmill before you engage in these activities to manage their enthusiasm. Tip 5: Enrichment Treats Enrichment treats such as bones with frozen peanut butter on the inside, stuffed Kongs, knuckle bones, bully sticks, and pig ears are all example of some great enrichment items to create calmness while inside the home, kennel, or crate. Conclusion So, stock up your training bag. Get a strategy in place to pre burn some energy BEFORE your dog excursion, and schedule your weekly field trips. Put a plan in place and try it for two weeks and you will see a big difference in your dog's behavior. Who knows? You might even want to go to the next level and enroll in more challenging courses for fun!

What to Feed Your Puppy

#AlphaDogTraining #dog trainingsaltlakecity What to Feed Your Puppy https://www.alpha-dog-training-slc.com The decisions you make about your puppy’s nutrition will affect his growth, development and even his behavior. Feeding your puppy a high-quality, complete and balanced puppy food helps set him up for a long and healthy life as an adult dog. This raises a lot of questions for first-time (and even veteran) puppy owners, though. How much should you feed your puppy and when? When should you stop feeding puppy food? What to Feed a Puppy When it comes to feeding puppies, there are a lot of factors to consider. Overall nutrition, breed size and the type of food all play a role. Here’s what you need to know: Puppy Nutrition Puppies need puppy food. Feeding puppies a complete and balanced puppy food ensures they get the proper nutrition to develop and grow into healthy adult dogs. Puppy foods are formulated with a balance of nutrients to help puppies grow up healthy and happy. Look for formulas rich in high-quality proteins to support their growing bodies. Fat and carbohydrates supply the energy active and playful puppies need, while calcium supports developing teeth and bones and DHA helps support healthy brain and vision development. Feeding Puppies Large & Small Not only do puppies need puppy food, but certain breed sizes can benefit from size-specific formulas. If you have a large breed puppy, he may benefit from a large breed-specific puppy formula. Small breeds can also benefit from small breed-specific puppy formulas. Regardless of breed size, the food should be complete and balanced for growing puppies. The difference in formulas comes down to the unique needs of large and small breeds. Large dogs have a higher risk of developing joint problems, so a large breed puppy food should include proper levels of nutrients to support their healthy growth and development. Small breeds may prefer smaller kibble so they can more easily chew their food, which helps ensure they get all the nutrients they need. Small breed-specific dog food is important due to their increased metabolism. This results in a nutrient-dense, high-energy formula which adults and puppies need to support a healthy lifestyle.

Getting Started with Puppy Training

#AlphaDogTraining #dogtrainingsaltlakecity Getting Started with Puppy Training Published by Alpha Dog Training https://www.alpha-dog-training-slc.com Puppy training is a great family activity and can be a bonding experience. If you take the time now, you’ll be much happier with a well-trained dog. Let’s take a look at some puppy training basics: Your Puppy’s Motivation Just like humans, dogs are social animals naturally accustomed to living in “packs.” Your puppy will be a member of your family, but it’s up to everyone to teach him the rules he has to abide by. He’ll come to respect the rules you lay out for him. All it takes is for you and your family to lead the way. It’ll take some time for your puppy to learn the ropes. What’s important is that along the way you show him positive reinforcement. Many people will reprimand their puppy during training when they do something “wrong.” But this isn’t the way to go about teaching him. Instead, motivate him by showing him praise or petting him when he follows the rules. If praise isn’t enough to motivate him, that’s ok. Try using treats in moderation or playing fetch as a reward for doing a good job. Getting Started The best time to start training your pup is the moment he enters your home. Show him right from wrong the first day and continue to teach him the rules as he grows up. If you miss something along the way, don’t believe you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Talk to your veterinarian if you have any problems during training. Be Consistent There’s a strong connection between you and your puppy, so clear and consistent communication is key when you’re training him. Teach him positive actions by rewarding him, and “No” by guiding him to do the right thing. The important thing is you’re explicit in teaching him right from wrong; otherwise, he’ll get confused. If you’re not consistent, he won’t be either. Treat Rewards Giving your puppy a treat or kibble can be a good way to reward him for learning. But don’t give him any free rides. He’s got to earn that treat. This shouldn’t, however, be his only reward. It’s ok to start off with treats, but over time gradually replace treat rewards with praise. Pretty soon praise will be all he needs, and treats can be used just as a treat. Correction Misbehavior from your puppy is expected. But it isn’t out of spite, it’s because he probably thinks that it’s okay to act that way. It’s up to you to teach him otherwise. Remember to catch him in the act and not to punish him for something he did in the past. He won’t know what you’re punishing him for unless you connect it to an action that occurred very recently.

How to Handle Puppy Biting

#AlphaDogTraining #dogtrainingsaltlakecity Handling Puppy Biting Published by Alpha Dog Training https://www.alpha-dog-training-slc.com 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? 1. 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). a. Exercise your puppy to get rid of excess energy (1 hour per day). b. Make sure your puppy is getting enough rest (12 hours per day). c. Have lots of great chew toys around to get her through teething (frozen wet rags, frozen raw marrow bones). d. 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. e. 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. 1. TEACH . Tie your puppy back or put her in a room with a gate that you can quickly climb over or open. a. Begin playing with her. Praise her for being gentle, but when she nips say "yipe" (like a puppy would) and quickly walk away. b. Wait 1 minute. Return and give her another try. Practice in 2-3 minute sessions with each family member taking a turn. c. The tie-back method also works well for other attention getting behaviors such as jumping up, barking and humping.

Poop and Your Dog's Health

#AlphaDogTraining #dogtrainingsaltlakecity Your Dog’s Poop Can Tell the Health of Your Dog Published by Alpha Dog Training https://alpha-dog-training-slc.com When your dog is healthy, his poop shows it. It can be large, firm and range in shades of brown. Learn how you can spot health problems simply by looking at your dog’s poop. The proof of a pet’s digestive health is in the poop. There are several ways to evaluate your dog’s digestive health: • Frequency: your dog should poop at least one time a day. • Color: may depend on the food you feed your dog • Consistency: firm stools are ideal How will your veterinarian evaluate your dog’s stool? Your veterinarian may ask you to bring a sample of your dog’s poop. He may ask you what you’ve noticed: diarrhea, straining, a change in frequency or mucus in the poop. Experts use tools like an in-depth microflora analysis, a Fecal Score System and a texture analyzer. How are dog stools evaluated for health? There are many characteristics to look at in dog stool. They include: • Stool form • Odor • Fecal density • Stickiness • Food digestibility • Nutrient absorption • Stool bacterial levels • Composition • Presence of parasites How to promote your dog’s digestive health? You don’t have to wait until your dog has a digestive issue. Here are some proactive steps you can take today: • Pay attention to your dog’s poop • Determine what is normal for him • Take note of blood or mucus in your dog’s poop • Talk to your veterinarian about changes you see • Promote your dog’s digestive health with probiotics.

Exercising Your Dog

#AlphaDogTraining #dogtrainingsaltlakecity Exercising Your Dog Published by Alpha Dog Training https://www.alpha-dog-training-slc.com Exercising Your Dog A healthy dose of exercise is beneficial for your dog. Knowing how much exercise your dog needs and how often he needs it starts with factoring in his age, size and health. Know Your Dog’s Needs As you exercise with your dog, consider his needs and present physical condition. Leisurely walks may be best for an older dog, while a young dog is more likely to have ample energy for something more vigorous. Find the Right Activity If your dog has more energy to expend than you do, teach him to fetch a ball or a flying disc. The activity may be just right for you and a challenging exercise for your dog. Ease Into It If, for whatever reason, you have not exercised your dog regularly and decide to launch a regular exercise program, go slowly at first. Begin with short periods of activity at slow speeds and gradually increase the time, speed and distance of the exercise. Alpha Dog Training wishes you luck on finding the right exercise regimen for your dog. Regular exercise is a key component to a healthy lifestyle for your dog.

How to Teach Your Puppy Not to Bite

#AlphaDogTraining #dogtrainingsaltlakecity How to Teach Your Puppy Not to Bite Published by Alpha Dog Training https://www.alpha-dog-training-slc.com 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? 1. 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). a. Exercise your puppy to get rid of excess energy (1 hour per day). b. Make sure your puppy is getting enough rest (12 hours per day). c. Have lots of great chew toys around to get her through teething (frozen wet rags, frozen raw marrow bones). d. 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. e. 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. 1. TEACH . Tie your puppy back or put her in a room with a gate that you can quickly climb over or open. a. Begin playing with her. Praise her for being gentle, but when she nips say "yipe" (like a puppy would) and quickly walk away. b. Wait 1 minute. Return and give her another try. Practice in 2-3 minute sessions with each family member taking a turn. c. The tie-back method also works well for other attention getting behaviors such as jumping up, barking and humping.