The Jersey Dog Trainer

07/30/2025

Service dogs.
Probably one of the most unpopular topics for any pet dog trainer.
I cannot begin to count the amount of service dog training requests I receive.
“Can your online courses train my dog to be a service dog?”
“I need to make my dog a service dog so he can ride on the bus with me” (Yes, someone seriously asked me this)
“Do you certify service dogs?”
No - no - no - and more no.
Service dog training is completely different from pet dog training.
If your dog is trained to walk nicely on a leash and sit and stay, they are a pet dog.
If your dog comes up to you and nuzzles you when you are sad - they are still a pet dog.
If you want your dog to accompany you into stores or fly in-cabin on planes … they’re still only a pet dog and these privileges are not for them.
Service dogs are task-trained.
They are specifically taught to work for people with disabilities.
A dog that solely provides comfort is not a service dog.
I see a lot of people acquiring dogs, labeling them as “my service dog” and *then* going about training them.
This is not how that works.
You cannot just select a dog, put a service dog harness on them and figure the rest out as you go.
We regularly receive requests from dog owners who tell us that their “service dog” pulled them over on leash or has always been highly reactive.
That their service dog relentlessly chases wildlife on walks or has anxiety in social settings.
One time I got a request from a lady who told me that she got a dog from the shelter to be her son’s service dog, but that “service dog” was now biting the son and could I please fix it.
I’m sorry - none of those dogs are not service dogs then. And they likely won’t be service dogs in the future either.
Please be honest about the dog you own.
Unless you worked diligently to train them as a service animal with specific tasks, they are a pet.
A beloved, (hopefully) well-behaved, wonderful pet.
But not a working dog, and you should not demand the privileges that are reserved for true service dogs.
Staying clear with this distinction protects the actual service dogs and their owners :)

07/15/2025

Lost dog in Bellmawr. Please keep an eye out for her!

Please spread the word for this lost dog. Bellatrix was LOST on July 14, 2025 in Bellmawr, NJ 08031 near Browning rd and Lowell st bellmawr

Message from Owner: She’s very sweet but she can be skiddish, she loves food and she doesn’t have any food allergies

PLEASE CALL

Description: Spayed female Black hairless dog with tan on her feet and eyebrows, 3 years old about 8 lbs

For more info or to contact Bellatrix's owner, click here: https://www.pawboost.com/p/71805609

Lost or found a pet? Report it to PawBoost here: https://www.pawboost.com/l/rpl

06/10/2025

03/13/2025

Diabetic Pitty was lost yesterday in Washington township. Please keep a look out for this dog because without her medication, she'll get very sick.

Please spread the word for this lost dog. Jayda was LOST on March 12, 2025 in Washington Township, NJ 08012 near Woodbrook Road, Bells Lake Subdivision, heading towards Barclay Drive

Message from Owner: Jayda needs her diabetes or she will become extremely sick. Please call or text with any information.

Description: White Pit Bull with brown markings, very sweet natured. Female.

For more info or to contact Jayda's owner, click here: https://www.pawboost.com/p/71348690

Lost or found a pet? Report it to PawBoost here: https://www.pawboost.com/l/rpl

12/28/2024

Lost dog. Sounds like he's near route 30. OMG!

UPDATE: REUNITED!! Teddy is home safe & sound after 4 days, 0 hours :)

Please spread the word for this lost dog. Teddy was LOST on December 27, 2024 in Winslow Township, NJ 08089 near Pennington & rt 30

Message from Owner: Big dog, but very loving. Please call $100 reward if found , no questions asked we just want him back.

Description: Brown mostly with some black and white spots

For more info or to contact Teddy's owner, click here: https://www.pawboost.com/p/71120159

Lost or found a pet? Report it to PawBoost here: https://www.pawboost.com/l/rpl

10/30/2024

A MESSAGE ABOUT CHRISTMAS PUPPIES, by Renee Premaza, The Jersey Dog Trainer

For those of you who are planning to purchase puppies this coming holiday season, please give this idea a lot of thought before you make that final decision. Puppies are a lot of work! Ask yourself if you will have the time to devote to this new baby in order to get him housetrained properly. Will you be able to take him for potty breaks every 1/2 hour to 45 minutes throughout everyday? If you are planning to keep puppy in a crate for 8 hours every weekday while you're at work, your puppy will not be able to hold his water or bowels for long. Puppies have a bladder the size of a pea! He may wind up soiling his crate and get very upset about having to sleep in a mess. Not only that, puppies should not be kept confined for that length of time without having a few breaks throughout the day to exercise, play and potty.

Puppies need to be thoroughly socialized. They need to meet a lot of people by the time they are, at least 12 weeks old! They need to visit all sorts of different places and hear a variety of sounds, and walk on many different surfaces. And... they must play with other healthy, friendly and vaccinated puppies and dogs before that 12 week period is over! Will you have the time to devote to getting your pup sufficiently socialized throughout this holiday season? If not, you might wind up with a dog that becomes fearful of everyone and everything he was not exposed to during that short window of socialization. When people adopt or purchase dogs that are 10 weeks or more, you are running against the clock.

Sadly, June of every year is a month when shelters begin to see 6-month old dogs being surrendered. These were the puppies that were purchased or adopted during the holiday season. People surrender their dogs at this age because (1) they are now showing shy, fearful and aggressive behaviors due to insufficient socialization, (2) they have not been completely housetrained because nobody took the time to get the dog out often enough for potty breaks, and (3) the novelty of having a puppy has now worn off once everyone realizes how much time and work is involved to raise a puppy.

Puppies are living, breathing and emotional creatures! They have special needs just like human infants. Please think carefully whether bringing a puppy into your home during this holiday season is an appropriate decision to make for you and your family. A better choice might be to wait until spring when the weather is warmer and you won't have to worry about housetraining your puppy during a snow storm. Also, you'll have more time to research the breed that will be best for your lifestyle.

If you need help with a puppy, or any dog, I can certainly help you! My phone number is (609) 280-9338. My email address is [email protected] My website has a ton of information for all dog owners, as well as links to podcasts of when I did a radio show all about dogs: jerseydogtrainer.com.

09/03/2024

Look at the dogs body language in this video and see how quickly the dog returns when being asked to come when called.

09/03/2024

09/03/2024

How secure are electric fences?

A survey of 974 dog owners asked how their dogs were confined to the yard, whether they had escaped. The results showed that an electronic fence was the LEAST effective method of containing a dog: 44% of dogs contained by one had escaped. Dogs were less likely to have escaped from a tether (27%) or from a see-through fence (e.g. chain link or slatted wood) (23%) or a privacy fence that is not see-through (also 23%). Escape rates were not associated with how dogs were trained on them.


Ref: Starinsky, et al (2017). Escape rates and biting histories of dogs confined to their owner's property through the use of various containment methods. JAVMA, 250(3), 297-302.

08/23/2024

Yesterday, as I was driving through Voorhees Township on Haddonfield, Road, Rt. 561, I drove past a police car and in front of that car was a young-looking Golden Retriever dead on the ground. If anyone is looking for a dog with this description, this is awful news to report.

Send a message to learn more

08/20/2024

Another lost dog. Her name is Ellie, and she gets scared when someone approaches too quickly. She was last seen in Marlton on Fox Chase Road.

UPDATE: REUNITED!! Ellie is home safe & sound after 4 days, 5 hours :)

"Thank you so much for all the help and prayers!! We are forever grateful!!"
-Ellie's Owner
Please spread the word for this lost dog. Ellie was LOST on August 19, 2024 in Evesham, NJ 08053 near Foxchase Road in Marlton off of Lincoln Drive W

Message from Owner: Please help us locate our little girl.. Ellie is a little chihuahua so she could be anywhere! If you spot her, please do not chase, she is very easily scared. Please reach out as soon as you can if you see her. We are worried sick about her being so small with so many predatory animals around.. please help us find her!

Description: Black with tan & white markings

For more info or to contact Ellie's owner, click here: https://www.pawboost.com/p/70670819

Lost or found a pet? Report it to PawBoost here: https://www.pawboost.com/l/rpl