More #WorkLikeaDog Training Tips

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

courtesy @FurkidParent
Vlad is Here to Help Deliver Training Tips

In preparation for #WorkLikeaDog, I've been busy putting together some training tips.  I thought it would be a manageable list, but little did I know what would roll out when I started typing. I'm planning to share quite a few during the Twitter Party for those of you who enjoy learning new ways to work with your dog. Here's some of the overflow that simply won't get included in the party. Hope to see you there on Tuesday for more tips, Zuke's info and prizes :)

• Dog touchy about brushing? Start w/soothing massage and work up, using back of brush first. Praise softly.
• With practice, praise and reward, Fido will allow inspection of ears, teeth, tail, body, paws/pads.
• Help Fido associate grooming w/pleasure. Play soft music, speak sweetly, treat when successful.
• Get your dog used to crowds and people by visiting your pet supply store on the weekend when busiest.
• If Fido pulls toward people or dogs to greet, start teaching the ‘Leave It’ command, treating accordingly.
• Another strategy for pulling toward people is to use the ‘Watch Me’ command and a
  
  treat, getting his ATTN back on you.
• Balance these ‘Leave It’ experiences with time at the dog park to meet and greet off-leash. Gr8 for socialization!
• Remember that training your dog makes him a better family member and more enjoyable companion. He’s worth it!
• Relish your training time as a bonding experience and remember to end on a high note with praise and a treat.

Join us Tuesday night at 8:30 PM ET for more tips. Now it's your turn. Share your best training tip in a comment below. Thanks for joining in. We may repeat your tip at the party.

All Things Dog Blog, in our Event Barkers partnership with Dogtipper.com, is working with Zuke's to build their online presence. As of last week, we have been instrumental in increasing their Twitter followers by 15%.

Puppy Training Part II: Start with Motivation

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Oliver Continues to Love His Crate Today

It should come as no big surprise that most dogs are food motivated.  Hold out a particularly yummy smelling treat and you've got Fido's attention until you give it to him. That makes training treats an incredibly powerful training tool--quite possibly the most important one you'll find for most dogs. 

You can harness that motivation and use it to train a dog to run an agility course, perform freestyle dance, and yes, even love his crate and potty outside. You simply need to get a treat with a strong aroma and make certain your timing is spot on. When you associate receiving that delicious morsel with the exact moment that your dog runs into his crate or tinkles on the grass, you've got a winning combination that will soon have your pup building the good habits you seek.

In the agility world, many of the trainers refer to a strong-scented treat as a 'high value' treat. These are the ones your dog will overcome fears to earn. So if a crate is new to your rescue dog, try burying a few treats inside his crate, under the bedding and give him a chance to bond with that crate over the yummy goodies it delivers. Build on short visits inside the crate, assuring a very comfortable bed and a location that allows him to see you and your family wherever you spend most of your time at home.

With each visit that gets a little longer and increasingly easier, offer a reward to build that comfort level even more. Make sure you use small bits, so as not to upset your dog's tummy, going especially tiny for your puppy while training her. 

One popular choice for your toughest training jobs is Zukes Mini Naturals. These moist miniature dog treats are easily broken up for the tiniest of puppies, but suitable for frequent rewards during daily training with your older dog as well. Available in 4 flavors (peanut butter, chicken, salmon and rabbit), test them all to learn which appeals to your pup's senses the most. You'll want to determine his greatest motivator. This will be the treat of choice for the more challenging training to come.

courtesy Zukes

With no wheat, corn or soy, you'll be giving your pet a low calorie reward (less than 3 1/2 calories per treat) that isn't likely to aggravate any allergies and is filled with whole food antioxidants for good health. To learn more about their extensive line of products, join Event Barkers for our upcoming Twitter Party. Healthy nutrition is at the root. Stay tuned for more details coming soon...

Event Barkers is helping Zukes get some promotional exposure on Twitter with a Twitter Party to be officially announced soon.Watch for details to come here and on our other team blogs.

Training Tips for New Pups: Part I

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Oliver at about 4 Months

While I'm a staunch believer that you really can teach an old dog new tricks (Xena proved it!), this series is intended for puppies and focused on house training. Whether you have a new puppy or a rescue that needs to bolster his indoor potty manners, this series of articles is meant for you.

Let's start with a few basic assumptions. Most puppies and dogs prefer not to soil their own bedding, and to that end will go as far away from their sleeping spot as possible to leave their deposits, when the time comes. If you're doing your part staying on top of teaching, this will happen. Your part is what we'll be covering in the remaining parts of this series. For now, try to be sure to take your pup out to the same spot frequently, allowing him to spend unsupervised time in his crate.

Crate training has been proven to provide the best results toward this goal and we now know that most dogs can and do learn to enjoy this private space where they can have quiet time and no worries of being stepped on while snoozing in an active household. We'll cover some tips for helping your dog learn to love his crate as much as Oliver does. All I have to do is say "Oliver Go Nite-Nite" and off he runs:

When training a young puppy, realize that you are helping this little one learn to hold it until the appropriate opportunity presents itself. The key word here is appropriate. It's up to you to reinforce what is appropriate, so that your pup gains an understanding of what you deem acceptable. 

Keep in mind that if you're house training a rescued dog that has had a prior home or no house training, he'll need the same patience and more to understand the new rules, having run by a different set of rules previously. Don't hold this against him; patience will get you there faster than agitation.

courtesy Amazon

Until Part II, please get prepared. You'll need a collar and leash, treat pouch for your waist, very small training treats with a strong scent, and a crate. Armed with these tools, you'll also need to make a decision where you would like your pup to go each and every time he needs to potty. See ya soon for Part II when I'll begin covering each of the above topics in greater detail.

Happy tails,

Watch Event Barkers, DogTipper and 5 Minutes for Fido for news of an upcoming Twitter Party featuring a key product from this series.

Super Doggedly Seeking Mutt Monday

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

Hip! Hip! Hooray! Thanks so much to our Super Dog Sunday Cheer Team for all their help. We couldn't have done it without them. Please give a hearty Super Dog thank you to our support system. You'll find all their social media information at the link.

And now let's get on with Mutt Monday. As I shared last week, we're going to be theming this week's posts with Simple Training Tips. I'll be looking for lots of your ideas for easing the strain of training our dogs. Link up as many posts as you like.

And next week, let's try something more along the lines of 

Valentine's Day

I'm asking pet bloggers to please dig deep into your archives and share posts on special party ideas, treats for Fido and other topics related to your celebration. Have fun with this. I look forward to seeing you next week.