Dog Training with Kelvin

11/13/2022

Teaching a dog to hug is one of the GREATEST tricks, especially if you're needing one and there's no one around, but yes, I have my own B role of moments like these

04/03/2019

Or "the rips" as I recall some call them!

Ever wondered why your dog randomly begins darting around the living room like they've gone mad? Here's the 411 on dog zoomies.

08/21/2018

Keep this in mind! Ticks aren't just a summer issue either, they can be active at temperatures as low as 45 degrees!

Summer means more outdoor time for your pet, getting lots of fresh air and exercise. Unfortunately, that time spent outdoors, especially in wooded areas or tall grass, can expose your dog to ticks.

08/10/2018

Why recall is so important. :-p

07/04/2018

Happy Fourth of July!!! Please make good safe decisions for both you and your dog!

06/21/2018

While out walking at lunch, I saw a group training service dogs. They were decently trained, but from a trainer/service dog perspective both partners had a long way to go. This oddly reminds me of them... Also, just generally funny!

Just because it’s a Velociraptor with knives for teeth doesn’t mean it’s not my best friend. CH Shorts - Original sketches, music videos, and pop culture par...

06/05/2018

Get those puppies outside!!!

We love our pets. They show us unconditional devotion. They don’t judge. They’re always there for us.

05/09/2018

There's some useful information in here regardless of whether your dog is territorial. They didn't really cover all tools you could use, either.

For reinforcing basics, all commands are good, but watch me, take it, leave it, drop it, and stay are definitely useful. I use leave it for anything Mav is thinking about: food, squirrels, barking/growling/staring (potentially aggressive behaviors). Recall should always be in top shape.

Instead of "settle," I prefer down/on your bed or bedtime/ kennel-up. All of these are similar in construct, but we use them differently: Down means lay down in place, a naturally calming position that doesn't prevent barking, but makes it more uncomfortable. Down also neutralizes and aggressive behaviors because it is alternate to most posturing, though dogs can still stare or growl. On your bed and bedtime typically refer to a specific comfy place and time. Usually we use these when it is bedtime, or we just need Mav out of the way. Kennel-up has multiple meanings. It could mean get in your crate, but since Mav is rarely crated we typically use it negativily when we're mad and need Mav out of our hair. He seems to discern well based on tone of voice, but we are always overly positive when using the crate regardless. I don't recommend doing this for your dog. It was more evolution of language than intentional for us.

Ultimately, it's situational, so if you have a specific situation, please feel free to post and Ill do my best to provide guidance!

It's normal for dogs to guard the resources that matter to them—but if...

04/13/2018

Prescribed burns are valuable to prairie and hardwood communities. Burns return nutrients to the soil, open up fields to sunlight for new growth, are necessary for germination of some species, and slow the encroachment of invasives. Forest preserve districts are specially trained and only burn on certain days. Burning at different times of the year impacts different species. For example, burning in the summer isn't ideal for snake and reptile populations, but burning in late fall, winter, or early spring while they are brumating has little to no affect.

Here's a nifty video of a drone and a good reminder you shouldn't play with fire.

This was a DJI Spark. It was my first drone. I am not even close to an expert. Crashed while filming a prescribed burn. Producer, Editor, Camera: Grant Czadz...

03/21/2018

I love this. I'm really glad it exists. This is some of the best dog park advice you could receive, however I think they miss a few things:

you shouldn't bring food to a park. Because of the nature of dogs, you shouldn't really bring toys to the park.

If you're exploring any dog park for the first time, it's ideal to go during off hours while your dog gets accustom to listening. I like to go early and wait for the regulars to arrive.

Keep your dog off the gate!!! The majority of fights start there. Recall or hold your dog while others are coming in. Think of it as holdon a door open vs. holding it shut. Frankly, I'll stand there in the exchange and wait.

If someone is coming in/out, let them. It's a one person/dog corral. That also seems like common sense, but it's a major foul.

You pile in the car and your dog excitedly leans out the window—he just knows…

03/21/2018

Keep that puppy wiped!

When life gets hectic, our dogs tend to get the short end of the stick—and…

03/14/2018

Happy Pi day!!!

We searched for the best dog-friendly pie recipes around, and discovered a foolproof method...