Dog Training & Behavior Tips
New Products In Stock for Fall!
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we are offering shipping to our current and previous students with their usual student discount on dog toys, treats, leashes, and more from our store! If you need products for your pup shipped to you fast that you know your trainer gives the seal of approval, this is a great way to do just that. Below is a list of the items we currently have in stock, our student pricing (without shipping cost or tax included), and some information about each product.
COVID-19 Update from the Faithfully Yours Team
This is a COVID-19 update for students who had their program paused due to COVID-19, re-scheduling for your private programs starts Nov. 1st, 2020 for January 2021 private session dates!
You guys are getting first pick of the dates before we open enrollment to the general public again on Dec. 1st, 2020 for January 2021 sessions. So, make sure you get in touch with us when you are ready to restart your program by using the contact form at this link.
Please keep in mind, restarting your program in January 2021 means you will be asked to wear a mask during your session and that sessions will be held outside only with our staff wearing masks.
Teamwork As A Trainer: Overcoming Negativity in Teams
We have finally reached the end of our Teamwork for Trainers series about the takeaway for pet professionals from the Ferrazzi’s book, “Leading Without Authority” (2020). The final chapters of the book included several gems about overcoming negativity within team settings, which is something all pet professionals will experience at some point in their careers; whether this is with students or other professionals. Gossip, negative remarks, and bringing down others is something everyone will fail victims to dishing out and receiving at some point throughout their career.
Should I Adopt A Parrot?: First Time Bird Owner Tips
You may have walked through big box pet stores and seen the cockatiels or budgies (parakeets) and thought about buying one. They are relatively cheap pets, and many people adopt them for their children as a distraction or something to care for to learn responsibility. However, the life of a parrot owner is not as simple as you may initially think. Here are some things to consider before adopting any type of parrot or pet bird…
Teamwork As A Trainer: Importance of Co-Development
As we near the end of this blog series, as I was reading in Ferrazzi’s book, “Leading Without Authority” (2020) we are following for this series, I wondered when we would reach the topic of positive reinforcement. Any experienced animal trainers know how important reinforcing desired behavior is, but they also know about the positive effects on psychology in both animals and humans. And finally, that chapter has come!
Photo Credit: https://puppyhero.com/breed/nova-scotia-duck-tolling-retriever
Training During COVID-19: Conditioning Your Dog to People Wearing Face Masks
Amid the COVID-19 crisis, wearing face masks has become a way of protection from the virus. However, some dogs might have difficulty adjusting to this change. This can cause some dogs to bark, growl, or hide when they see a person in a mask.
So, why are masks scary to dogs and what can you do about it?
Teamwork As A Trainer: Collaboration Success In Training
Life, however, doesn’t just give us people we agree with, and sometimes there will be a good reason for us to need to peacefully collaborate with people whose ethical stances are different from our own. Even in professional debates and conversations at conferences, there is a chance for each person to input their opinion into the conversation for review by the group.
AKC Announces New Virtual Home Manners Titles
The American Kennel Club announced their newest virtual title program called Virtual Home Manners today. This new title program fills a gap in their programs for dogs unable to attend in-person classes, either due to Covid-19 protocols, age, or health complications.
Treasure Your Puppy Today: Adjusting To A New Puppy
In today's world, we are used to instant gratification. We can have items shipped to us from across the world in mere days, we can download a new game in less than an hour, and we can have a fully cooked meal given to us through a drive-thru window within minutes.
However, there is nothing like living with an animal (especially a young animal) to teach you patience.
Teamwork As A Trainer: Building Trust As A Dog Trainer
As professional animal trainers, trust is a colossal part of our job whether we are aware of it or not. We need the trust of the animal so, we can function as a team with the animal and we aren’t injured. However, we also need the trust of the human-side of the equation. The animal’s owner must trust in our opinion, expertise, and ability to provide the results they are asking for in a humane and effective way.
The Big Reinforcer List: Reinforcers For Dog Training
Just like humans, dogs have different preferences. Not all dog treats, toys, or experiences hold the same value for every dog. So, try out a wide variety and if it increases your target behavior, it is a reinforcer for your dog. Here is a big list of possible reinforcers your dog might find, well, reinforcing! Remember to add new reinforcers safely and double-check with your vet before changing your dog's diet.
Teamwork As A Trainer: Knowing Your Broader Team
The dog’s owner, vet, vet behaviorist, doggie daycare, pet sitter, and anyone else interacting with the animal on a semi-usual basis is on our broader team. We must consider if what they are doing is working for us or against us and how we can extend what Ferrazzi describes as “care, concern, commitment, and camaraderie” to everyone on our broader team to accomplish our common goal; a happy, healthy animal the owner can live with (Ferrazzi, 2020).
Training Like A Pro: The Importance of Basics
With my training students, I have found many come to classes or private sessions after attempting to follow step-by-step guides, DVDs, or YouTube videos on how to train a dog.
They are often frustrated that the dog in these books or videos isn't like *their* dog. That dog is already well-trained, a different breed, more focused, or just simply *better* in some way than their own dog…
2019 Doggie Themed Black Friday Sale MEGA LIST
Hope everyone is having a fabulous (and food-filled) Thanksgiving so far. Here are some the Black Friday sales we have come across for dogs and dog training stuff. Have fun and go make some pups happy for Christmas!
Puppy Biting - Is My Puppy Aggressive?
One of the most common questions I get as a professional dog trainer from students with puppies is about aggression and biting. We unfortunately have even had people email us inquiring about signing up for classes to have them reply back that they rehomed the puppy before class even started because the puppy was "aggressive".
True aggression in puppies is extremely rare. I have only seen one to two cases of true aggression in a puppy under four months of age in all my years of working with dogs.
So, what are puppy owners actually seeing then?
Why "No" Is Useless In Dog Training
Did you know that you could making your dog's behavior worse by saying "No"? Daily we get emails from people who say that they say "No" a thousand times a day to their dog and they just don't understand why it isn't working and why the dog's behavior is getting worse.
There are two questions I want you to ask yourself:
1. How did you train your dog to respond to the word "No"?
2. How much time do you spend on Facebook?
The Degradation of "Good Communication" in Dog Training
Mr. Webster defines the term “communication” as follows:
Communication
1. the imparting or exchanging of information or news
2. means of sending or receiving information, such as telephone lines or computers.
One could imagine from these definition that good or proper would mean that we are able to impart information quickly, throughly, and understandably to the other party with as little effort as possible.
Sensory Gardens For Your Dogs: Positive Impacts on Behavior
Over the past few years, photos of amazing outdoor spaces for pet dogs and shelter dogs alike have been floating around on Pinterest and Instagram. Increasing their popularity and the number of families considering letting their yards and gardens go “to the dogs”. From these ideas and photos, the inspiration for sensory gardens for dogs was born.
Loose Leash Walking: Tips to End Pulling
Loose leash walking can be a challenging skill for many owners and dogs. There is a lot going on when trying to train your dog to walk nicely next to you. First you have to learn to hold the leash and the treats, usually while your dog is pulling you everywhere. Not to mention, your dog’s focus is elsewhere as they sniff every blade of grass and pull towards every dog and stranger they see.
Challenges for Medical Professionals Seeking Therapy Dogs
Everything seems to come in waves around here!
This month we are seeing a wave of medical and psychological professionals who would like to have therapy dogs to take to work with them to assist with patients, so I wanted to make this post again for anyone who missed it last time and just to further educate on what our process looks like in this case.