Nowadays it has become more important than ever to adopt a pet instead of buying it. Thousands of helpless animals are put to death every year because they are ownerless. If you have your heart set on a puppy of your own there is no reason not to call around shelters and find some puppies…
At our dog training classes in Northern Virginia, we get asked this question all of the time! Once you’ve made the decision to get a family pet, a dog, there is still one choice remaining. Are you willing to put up with the necessary training in order to break in a brand new puppy or…
If you live in Northern Virginia, own a German Shepherd and would like to get it trained, there are various competent options available to you in the State. Training Issues The common issues faced by German Shepherd owners are jumping, pulling on the leash, hyper-activity and mouthing, there is a possibility of private classes in…
On a daily basis we hear stories about dogs who hate having their feet touched or their nails cut, this is generally due to the owners or breeders not doing “body desensitization” with their pups at a young age. If you have a new pup, it’s highly important for you to do body desensitization drills…
Below are some of the puppy training tips we give at our facility in Northern Virginia on a daily basis. We were just nominated “Best Dog Trainer” and “Best Puppy Trainer” by Northern Virginia Magazine for 2014. General Dog Training Tips 1. Pick Wisely When Selecting Your Future Pup Whether selecting your prospective pup from…
We always get questions about owners’ dogs submissively or excitedly urinating during our puppy training classes in Northern Virginia. What we hear all of the time is, “My puppy does this anytime my husband comes in the room, I swear he has never hit him or did anything to him.” People automatically assume that this…
At our Puppy Training Classes in Northern Virginia, we address play biting and nipping a lot. Many people refer to this behavior as different things such as, play biting, nipping, and mouthing. Some dogs are more prone to this than other dogs; such as, Malinois, Australian Shepherds, German Shepherd, Huskies, etc. These are all what…
At our dog training facility in Northern Virginia, we do a puppy training/consultation program as early as 8-10 weeks old. However, we really do not put too much focus on “obedience” per se at that age, we focus on things that we consider more important for puppy development; such as, bonding, socialization, pack leadership, crate…
Many people ask, “What is the best type of dog to get?” or “What is the best breed of dog to get?” In order to raise the perfect dog, you have to pick the perfect dog—that is, the perfect dog for you. Unfortunately, I cannot answer that, only you can. The question you should ask…
Bringing home a new puppy is like Christmas every morning, until you realize that you need to house train your puppy. You know, those mornings when you wake up to a mess in your floor. Many people wonder, “How do I train my new puppy?” House training a new puppy can be emotionally and physically…
So you have decided to take a big leap, and pick yourself up a new puppy. You find the cutest, fluffiest, most adorable puppy ever, and you bring him home. Then you ask yourself, “What are things I should know about getting a new puppy?”The next morning you wake up to find that your cute…
Train your puppy quickly and effectively with positive reinforcement techniques The modern approach to puppy training, and indeed dog training in general, is a far cry from the old methods of punishing bad behaviour. It is now know that using positive reinforcement, such as treats and praise, works far better and will cause your puppy…
First off, congratulations on your new perfect puppy! Many people do not realize how much work some puppies can be for the first six months of their lives, and that’s just the beginning. As you’ve learned, house breaking a puppy can seem impossible. Essentially, it is like having a newborn baby in many ways…
