by Canine College | Mar 30, 2020 | Training Tips, View All
A confident dog is one that will be able to encounter other dogs and humans without barking too much or engaging in fights—which means that it’s a good idea to invest in your dog’s confidence! Let’s discuss good habits to form to help increase the confidence of your dog or puppy. Start Early The adage ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ might not be true, but it’s certainly easier the earlier you begin to adapt your puppy to the facts of life. While being gentle and cognizant of your puppy’s abilities, start taking them on walks and going out to do new things to broaden his horizons and teach him about the world! Take Them to Puppy Classes Going to puppy classes to instill a little bit of order in his life will do wonders for your puppy. Dogs need some form of command and obedience in their life—it literally helps their brains sort through their experiences more evenly, and helps them be less stressed. Again, starting early will help—and a group class setting will socialize them, which will also give them more confidence. Mindfully Go to Dog Parks as They’re Ready Dog parks can be overstimulating. However, they can also teach your dog valuable lessons about his size, his place in the pack, and simply how to have fun (instead of being aggressive) with other dogs. However, if your dog shows signs of stress or fear, don’t hesitate to ramp up to this activity instead of springing it on your dog. Understand That It Might Not Go as Planned As you’re trying to instill confidence, work... read more
by Canine College | Mar 25, 2020 | Training Tips, View All
Having a dog is both a privilege and a responsibility. While it’s easy to get wrapped up in the puppy dog eyes and kisses, as a pet owner, it’s your job to make sure you do the right things to ensure the health of your furry friend! However, it can be difficult to know exactly what to do to ensure that you are able to enjoy the benefits of being the owner to a happy and healthy pup. That said, it all starts with you! Here’s what you need to know about the top 5 habits of an effective dog owner. 1. Train Proactively When you’re trying to introduce your dog to new, desirable habits such as staying quiet until you wake up and going to the bathroom in the correct place, it’s important to show your dog what you want them to do as well as react strongly to poor behavior. For example, when you’re coming in from a walk, waiting outside until your dog goes to the bathroom instead of going straight inside will help your dog form a natural, dependable rhythm. 2. Keep the End Goal in Mind If you want your dog to stop barking whenever the mailman goes by, remember that they’re just reacting to an environmental stimulus and—unless you give them another option—that’s what they’re built to do! Instead, think along the lines of, “I want them to play or sit quietly when the mailman is here”—and train towards that, instead of simply reacting negatively when they bark. 3. Prioritize Perspective If your dog has some less than desirable behaviors but is still... read more
by Canine College | Feb 29, 2020 | Training Tips, View All
Like babies, puppies use their mouth to chew anything and everything that crosses path with them. In fact, to puppies, the entire world is a chew toy. If these puppies only chew their toys, then we wouldn’t be having any problem with them. They go on to chew your shoes, furniture, and anything they can get their mouth on. Aside from destroying things in your home, your puppy can also chew things that can harm it or lead to its death. To train your puppy to stop chewing requires time and consistent effort. Before we delve into training your puppy to prevent chewing, lets us consider why puppies chew in the first place. Why Puppies Chew Chewing is a typical behavioral trait for puppies and dogs in general. There are multiple reasons why puppies chew, and they include relieving anxiety, strengthening their jaw, getting rid of boredom, etc. As social animals, dogs need stimulation for the good of their mental health. When you fail to exercise your puppy enough or provide it with the required one-on-one time, your puppy can divert its attention to chewing inappropriate things. Tips On How To Train Your Puppy To Not Chew Create Puppy-Barriers in Your Home It would help if you did not allow your puppy to have full run access in your home unless it is thoroughly trained. Decide on the areas that your puppy will be allowed to play and then puppy-proof your home. You will have to pick and remove those materials that might appeal to your puppy to chew. Make Toys Available for Your Puppy Puppies chew to ease... read more
by Canine College | Feb 26, 2020 | Training Tips, View All
With the ever-demanding workplace and more hours at work, we are spending less time with our dogs. Although some dogs might decide to sleep and await your arrival, some need something extra. Doggy Daycare is a place to provide the extra spark for your dog while you are off to work. It doesn’t matter how often you drop your dog at such daycare. What matters most is whether your dog will thrive in such an environment. Before you decide to send your dog off to a Doggy Daycare, know how your dog responds to such an environment. Without any doubt, dog daycare necessary for your dog for many reasons which include but not limited to: For Your Dog to Learn Socialization Skills The fact that dogs are social animals means that it will be counterproductive always to lock them in the house while you are off to work. Your dog needs to b around other dogs to learn how to act properly and play very well with others. Good and Proper Exercise for Your dog As you must have noticed, your dog is always happy and full of energy whenever it welcomes you from your work. The dog is in the mood to play while you are thinking of taking your shower and jumping into the bed. Knowing the benefits inherent in properly exercising your dog, you can see why dog daycare is necessary. Not Having to Worry About Bathroom Breaks Bathroom breaks are one less thing to worry about your dog if you have it enrolled in a dog daycare. While your dog has been home all day,... read more
by Canine College | Jan 28, 2020 | Training Tips, View All
A dog is one of the best pets for both adults and children alike. But, it can be hard to manage a dog that seems to have an unlimited amount of excess energy and just can’t sit still. Keep reading and we’ll cover what to do if your dog won’t sit still. How To Teach Your Dog To Sit Still Firstly, you need to understand what exactly is the problem. Dogs aren’t wired to have 24 hours of unlimited energy – they are living beings who need to eat, sleep, rest, and move, just like we do. So, if you’re finding that your dog just can’t sit still, there is likely an imbalance of some sort in their life. Start by asking yourself some basic questions: How often does my dog exercise? Is my dog sitting in the kennel most of the day while I’m at work? Does my dog get enough mental stimulation? Figuring out the problem point is the biggest step in getting your dog to sit still. Once you’ve figured that out, use these three tricks to make a change: Increase Daily Exercise Clicker Training Use a Doggy Day Care Increase Daily Exercise If you find that your dog is constantly moving while you’re around, they probably aren’t getting enough exercise. One easy way to combat this is to simply increase the amount of exercise your dog gets. You can do this incrementally, or all at once, and see what works best for you. Some easy tips to implement this are to wake up earlier and run with your dog in the morning, come home during... read more
by Canine College | Jan 28, 2020 | Training Tips, View All
While it is very common to train your dog in basic ways, such as housetraining, obedience commands, and small tricks, it is less common to agility train your dog. Dog agility is a sport where a handler leads the dog through various obstacles, such as tire jumps, tunnels, and weave poles. More and more, agility training is becoming common for household pets! Benefits of Agility Training Agility training may seem like it is just for competitive or show dogs, but it is actually quite beneficial for all dogs! Here’s why: Good Source of Exercise Exercises Dog’s Natural Instincts Improves Dog/Owner Communication Strengthens Dog/Owner Bond Good Source of Exercise If anything, agility training is a great source of exercise – for both you and your dog! Agility training involves running through obstacles over and over, sometimes for hours, until your dog is able to perform the trick. This can help rid your dog of excess energy and give them a source of exercise. It is especially beneficial for city or apartment dogs who may not be able to run around as much as wild dogs or dogs who can run around in yards. It’s also a great way for you to get moving! As the handler, you’ll be directing your dog through the obstacles and can get some exercise, too. Exercises Dog’s Natural Instincts As you know, dogs’ natural purposes aren’t to sit at home in a house. Wild dogs are natural hunters, running after other wildlife and chasing and hunting their prey. House pets do not get the opportunity to do this as much, if at all. One way... read more
by Canine College | Jan 2, 2020 | View All
Having a dog is one of life’s greatest joys. Enjoying time with your furry friend is so easy – but feeding them can feel complicated. A good diet is one of the most important ways that we keep our pets healthy, and it can be hard to know if you’re feeding your dog the right amount. Why Is Getting It Right Important? Food is central to dogs’ health and feeding them well is the best way to maintain good nutrition and body weight. Underfeeding can lead to issues like vitamin deficits, malnutrition, and even starvation – but overfilling the bowl comes with risks, too. Overfeeding can cause dogs to become overweight and obese. While chubby dogs may seem cute, dogs that are overweight have shorter life spans and are more likely to suffer from all sorts of illnesses including arthritis, diabetes, and even cancer. Making sure that your dog stays fit, trim, and active will help them live long, healthy, and happy lives. How to Measure So, how do you know how much to dish out? Here are some considerations to help you figure out the right amount for your dog: -Body Weight: The most basic way to calculate how much to feed your dog is by body weight. Each type of food has a recommended daily feeding amount based on how much your dog weighs. For instance, if your dog weighs 6 lbs., the recommended amount might be ½ cup a day – but if your dog weighs 60 lbs., that number would be 3 cups. While bodyweight is a good place to start, it’s not the only... read more
by Canine College | Dec 16, 2019 | View All
Adding a new member to the family is an exciting thing. Dogs bring fun, companionship, and joy to our lives for many years. Before you head off to the pet store to make this commitment, though, check out this list of reasons why you should adopt vs. shop for your dog. Adopting Saves Lives The biggest reason why you should adopt is the most obvious: when you adopt an animal from a shelter, you just might save that animal’s life. Shelters work hard to protect all types of animals but, sometimes, there are just too many dogs to take care of. Dogs are often euthanized if they don’t get adopted – you can help prevent this tragedy and give a loving home to an animal in need. It Costs Less When you go to a pet store or shop online for a designer dog, you might pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Adopting costs a fraction of the price – and you’ll still get the perfect pooch! Not only is adopting cheaper but shelters usually cover the cost of a bunch of services like vaccinations, microchipping, and spaying or neutering, too. Shelter Dogs Have History – and That’s Good! Shelter dogs get a bad rap, but their reputation couldn’t be further from the truth. Dogs are often brought to the shelter from a previous home where they learned how to interact with adults, kids, and other animals. Shelter dogs have all sorts of personalities – playful, cuddly, hard-working, sensitive – and many of them are already house trained! If you need assistance training your dog, the experts at... read more
by Canine College | Dec 4, 2019 | View All
While new puppy owners are told that socializing their puppies is important, and it is, this can often lead to distressing situations for your new family member – which is the opposite of the point. Here are some steps to take to start socializing your puppy in a way that will make him feel safe as well as provide you with the desired response: Shadow a Puppy Class If you think a puppy class might be the best route for your pup, shadow the class first. Do not bring your dog with you. You want to look at the size of the class, the size of the other dogs, as well as the location, noise levels, and types of instruction. Pay special attention to any signs of stress for dogs (or other owners), as you definitely don’t want to put your pup in a stressful situation. Learn Your Pup’s Body Language Before you start socializing your pup regularly, you’ll want to make sure you can identify when he feels unsafe. If he has a wagging tail and a soft eye expression, he probably feels good. If he plants his feet and refuses to walk, respect his reluctance. Pushing him into an experience that makes him feel scared or unsafe will have the opposite effect from teaching him to be outgoing and accepting of new situations. Avoid Other Dogs – At First Unless it is a dog that you know, keep your pup at bay. You don’t know anything about the other dog’s temperament or vaccination history, and the last thing you want is for a strange dog to attack... read more
by Canine College | Nov 29, 2019 | View All
Many people believe that crates are cruel and that it is inhumane to leave a dog in a crate. However, when used properly, crates are not cruel and can become a great tool for pet owners. Positive crate training will provide many benefits for you and your dog, such as the following. Creating a Safe Space A crate can become a “den” for your dog. It will become his space for when he is feeling stressed, tired, or just needs downtime. If you have children, it is a good idea to teach them that when the dog is in his crate, he is out of bounds and needs to be left alone. Potty Training A properly-sized crate will help your puppy learn bladder and bowel control. Dogs and puppies do not like a soiled bed, so the crate will help your puppy learn this more quickly. Household Safety Letting your dog rest comfortably in his crate while you are not able to supervise is a huge plus. It will keep him safe, as well as you if you are moving around and having him underfoot could cause you to trip and fall. It also protects any objects that he may want to play with from getting destroyed while you are unable to watch him. Additionally, when you are away from home, your dog can relax comfortably in his crate where he cannot destroy or damage things in the home. Easier Vet Visits While many dogs learn to be uneasy at the vet pretty quickly, having a crate that your dog loves will make it easier to convince him to... read more
