Sit Up & Beg Dog Training Co.

04/12/2022

Dogs don’t speak our language but that doesn't mean they can't communicate with us. They communicate by their body language, with their barks, and of course, through growling.

When a dog growls (and I don't mean while playing) they are telling you they are upset about the situation they're in and want it to end. The only appropriate human response to this is to give the dog space from whatever is causing the discomfort that elicited this response from them.

When we punish the growl, we're essentially taking the warning away. And that won't take the discomfort away next time, it will simply stop a dog from warning that they may snap or bite. Dogs very rarely, if ever, "bite out of the blue" or "bite without warning". Humans just fail to realize the warning signs or suppress the warning signs through punishment.

04/11/2022

Yesterday kicked off National Dog Bite Prevention Week. Education is key to preventing dog bites.

02/10/2022

Here is Jovie learning (and nailing it!) on/off. I find these to be valuable cues for a number of reasons:

*Weight checks at a vet exam.
*Giving permission to come on furniture.
*Cuing to get off furniture or people if your dog is a jumper.
*Help with learning “place”

This gives her pet parents clear communication to Jovie on what they want-paws on or off an object/person. This isn’t the end of this cue as you must proof all behaviors with different objects/environments as well. But we’re laying down the foundation now and at 15 weeks, she’s doing awesome!

Remember to make training sessions fun, short, and rewarding for your dog. End on a good note, laugh at mistakes, and celebrate those small wins!

02/01/2022

Puppy Jovie is enjoying some mental enrichment made up completely of a paper towel tube and her food with just some higher value treats sprinkled in to make that much more fun.

Mental enrichment is so beneficial for our dogs. It provides an outlet for species appropriate behavior-here Jovie is foraging and shredding. She’s also problem solving, *how can I get this food out of this tube?* which will build worlds of confidence in a dog! And when she’s busy doing mental enrichment activities, guess what she isn’t doing? Anything she shouldn’t be! 😆

I never want dog parents to feel stressed about mental enrichment, it can be even simpler than this activity and you don’t need to buy expensive mental enrichment toys to get started. Use things you already have!

01/06/2022