Off Leash K9 Training Dog Training Blog
I spent March 6th-12th 2014 giving a 5-day private obedience seminar in Murrieta, California! I had such a great time there and it gave me an a well-needed break for the Northern Virginia cold that I had grown accustom to! When I left Virginia, it was 17 and when I landed in Southern...
I have a “bone to pick” with the “service dogs” that are rampantly taking over the United States. I have seen more “service dogs” in the last year than any other time I can remember: unfortunately, there is a huge reason why this is happening.
As you know, service...
Because you can’t ask your pet if he or she is depressed, it can be a case of affixing human emotions onto an animal. It can also be a series of symptoms that have no other logical explanations. It appears that pets can become depressed by changes in their living arrangements, the loss of a close...
Techniques for Trimming Dog Toenails
It is important that trimming your dog’s toenails become part of a regular grooming routine. When the nails become too long they can break, which is painful to the animal. It can cause infections as well as a gait that is irregular. Consistent awkward gaits...
The Pros and Cons of Clothes for Dogs
In a pet forum, one of the fastest ways to get a thread started is to make a statement either for or against the concept of clothes for dogs. Dog owners of both viewpoints will be getting very worked up about the topic each convinced that the other viewpoint is...
According to the ASPCA, many dogs in the U.S. show signs of periodontal disease by the time they are four years of age. There are some obvious signs that there are dental problems. These include bad breath, staining, tartar buildup and excessive drooling. Today, there are products that are intended to...
What Makes A Good Therapy Dog?
At our dog training facility in Northern Virginia, we recently had 8 out of 8 of our trained dogs pass the therapy dog certification with Therapy Dog International.
While there are certain people who like the idea of using their dog in one of the registered therapy programs,...
At our dog training program in Northern Virginia, we always get asked about which treats they should give their dogs.
First, we generally recommend all-natural treats, like Unleashed Treats. Just like people, the less the ingredients, the healthier the food.
When providing treats for your dog, there...
The Purpose of Exercise with Your Dog
At our dog training facility in Northern Virginia, we talk about the importance of exercise with your dog on a daily basis. Some people get a dog, thinking that walking the dog will provide good exercise. If you are a couch potato, taking your pet for a short walk...
Dealing with Dog Skin Ailments Naturally
Dogs get skin ailments just as humans do. You can’t ask your pet how it feels; you can only observe his behavior and treat the outward symptoms. If you are accustomed to seeking out natural remedies for yourself, it won’t surprise you to know that...
Video of Dog Transitioning Through The Commands
At our dog training facility in Northern Virginia, we are big advocates for teaching as many different positions to the dog as possible. This is done in order to have a useful command based off of the scenario that you are currently in.
Sit:
The sit command...
At our dog training facility in Northern Virginia we always go over the concept with owners on the difference between correcting an issue and redirecting an issue.
So, I will attempt to give a few scenarios for you to help determine which action is more appropriate for your dog/issue.
Excessive Barking:
-I...
As you know, at our dog training facility in Northern Virginia, we see about 70 dogs per week, so we get to hear the numerous things people are naming their dogs!
Here is a list of the top 10 most popular dog names of 2013:
Female
1. Bella
2. Daisy
3. Lucy
4. Molly
5. Sadie
6. Sophie
7. Lola
8. Chloe
9....
Everyday at our dog training facility in Northern Virginia, I find myself saying, “Stay is an amateur dog training command.”
As you can see in our 400+ videos on our YouTube Channel, we never use the “stay” command; however, the dogs do not budge despite us running around them,...
At our dog training facility in Northern Virginia, one of the situations we have to address on a daily basis is dogs properly greeting another dog.
In order to do a proper introduction, there are some key elements that should be adhered to:
First: Before you let the dogs approach, do NOT assume the other...
On a daily basis, we hear, “I need to correct my dog’s bad behavior.” If you look at our YouTube Channel you will see literally hundreds of dogs performing flawless obedience.
People contact us daily and say things like, “Your obedience training looks really amazing; however,...
A common question we get at our dog training facility in Northern Virginia is, “How Can I Stop My Dog From Chewing Everything?”
The first thing I have to get you to realize is that your puppy is not doing this out of malice intent. I hear all of the time, “I cannot believe he chewed...
We can give your dog the tools to pass therapy dog testing at our facility in Northern Virginia. On a monthly basis, our trained dogs pass their therapy dog testing with ease.
If you look at our YouTube Channel, you will see all of our trained actually “exceed” the standards laid out for...
At our dog training facility in Northern Virginia, I am a huge advocate AGAINST doing in-home dog training. As I say on a daily basis, “I have never seen a dog that has impressed me in obedience, that did it through in-home training.”
I have said this phrase for years, and despite us training...
At our dog training facility in Northern Virginia, we have it all when it comes to basic and advanced training for your dog. Whether you’re looking for some basic obedience courses, or you want military grade training, you can schedule just about any training package you’d like.
We...
If you’ve ever walked down the street and passed someone who’s walking their dog on a leash, you know that apprehension that can be felt by strangers when an unknown dog is nearby. You’re not sure whether “spot” is a friendly, or if he wants to take your leg off. At offleashk9training,...
How to feed your dog is an age-old debate that we get asked about weekly at our dog training facility in Northern Virginia.
I will give you my personal opinion on this subject, and just to be fair, I will give you some of the pro’s and con’s of each.
My personal belief is that...
At our dog training facility in Northern Virginia, we hear many stories of how when untrained dogs get outside, they turn catching them into a game. Meaning, when you get close to them, they will run away; often times, this results in the owner having to “trick” the dog in order to catch...
At our dog training facility in Northern Virginia, we also offer detection and nosework training.
Many people often times ask us, “Why do detection or nosework training with my dog, he is just a pet?” Surprisingly, there are a lot of reasons in how this benefits you and your dog.
First,...
At our dog training facility in Northern Virginia, we always get the question, “I have two dogs, can we train both of them together?”
Anytime I get this question, I have always told people no that we do not train that way, and explained that the dogs would have to be trained separately. In...
At our dog training facility in Northern Virginia, on a daily basis we work with getting dog’s behavioral issues fixed and their obedience flawless.
Once your dog has a solid foundation on obedience, I always recommend that you start building their focus during their training. In many of our videos,...
On a daily basis at our dog obedience training facility in Northern Virginia, we work with dogs so they stop running out of the door.
This is what we call “door manners.” In my opinion, teaching your dog door manners is essential for numerous reason, you will see I discuss this in my blog...
A question we get on a daily basis at our dog training facility in Northern Virginia is, “How much time per day should I spend working my dog on obedience training?”
When working your dog on obedience, there should be a few elements that you keep in mind:
-Incorporate the obedience into play...
At our dog training facility in Northern Virginia, we always get asked about problem solving for their excessive barking dog.
Seemingly, often times the dogs are displaying this behavior while locked in their crate/cage. Generally, this is a common sign of Separation Anxiety; additionally, many of these...