K-9 LifeSavers

Does your dog have a behavioral issue you'd like to address? Are you new puppy owner and want to learn how best to train to prevent behavioral problems in the future? Join K-9 Lifesavers and Spring Training for people-only educational workshops covering a variety of topics, offered by Spring Training, LLC. Using positive, science-based methods, Kelly Spring, CPDT, will offer suggestions and techniques to help you with certain behavioral issues, and help your dog become more confident.

Fearful Dogs: Anxieties, Fears and Phobias- (Saturday September 10th)  

Is your dog afraid of people, other dogs, or sudden noises? Is your dog stressed and worried in new situations? Does your dog pace, pant, shake or hide when a thunderstorm rolls through? If you answered yes to any one of these questions, this workshop is for you.

Stopping Nuisance Behaviors -- Barking, Jumping Chewing, Digging- (Saturday September 24th) 

Does your bark at people, birds, the wind, to get your attention, and sometimes nothing at all? Does your dog dig in the yard, chew personal items, or jump on people when they come into your home? Join us for our "Stopping Nuisance Behaviors" workshop and learn tricks of the trade to stop these unwanted behaviors.

Puppy Basics to prevent behavior problems- (Saturday October 8th) 

Are you a new owner of a puppy? Congratulations! You've surely heard about "socialization" for your puppy, but do you know that it can prevent a lifetime of fears, separation anxiety, resource guarding, and even aggression in your new dog? Come learn about what socialization is, what it isn't, and exactly what you need to do to set the stage for a happy, healthy, well-adjusted dog -- and prevent a lifetime of behavioral problems.   

Leash Reactivity- (Saturday October 22nd) 

Does your dog lunge, bark, and growl at other dogs when you go for walks? You and your dog are not alone! Join us for a workshop on the most effective and humane ways to change out-of-control leash behaviors -- using methods that address the root-cause of the problem.    

All four Q&A seminars will be from 3pm- 4pm and held at the following location:

Allay Yoga

10419 Armory Avenue 

Kensington, MD 20895

Free parking is available

One Workshop:  $20

Two Workshops:  $35

Three Workshops: $55

Four Workshops:  $70

To purchase tickets- click here 

You often hear dogs told to "heel," and you may have even given the command yourself, possibly without knowing exactly what you were asking for. The goal of "heeling" is for your dog to walk at your left side, and automatically sit when you stop.  In a true heel, your dog should be neither in front or behind you, but exactly at your side, and should be watching you to see where you will go next.

Teaching it:

1. Start with your dog at your left side on a loose leash.  Say "heel" and walk forward, starting with your left foot. (This step should later become your dog's signal to move.)  Make sure to give the verbal command before starting your motion.
2. When your dog is walking beside you in the correct position his shoulder will be aligned with your left leg.  Reward your dog periodically for good form and say "good heel."
3. When you are preparing to stop, slow down, plant your left foot, and slowly bring your right foot up to meet it.  Pull up on your leash and say "sit." Reward your dog.
4. Your dog should remain in a sitting position until you are ready to move forward again. Say "heel" and step forward with your left foot.
5. Practice stops and starts until your dogs is easily following you and your can reduce your verbal commands.  Build on this exercise by practicing off leash.

Since many of us learn to swim by doing the "doggie-paddle," we assume swimming comes naturally to our K-9 friends. And while many breeds do take to the water like fish, not all dogs are natural swimmers. If you live around water, or will be traveling with your dog this summer, make sure to take a "splash" course.

If your dog is a water spaniel, setter, retriever, akita, or poodle, chances are your swimming lessons will be virtually non-existent and your dog may actually outswim you! However, if your dog is a basset hound, bulldog, dachshund, pug, corgi, Scottish or Boston terrier, you will likely have a longer road ahead of you, and may end up investing in some K-9 floaties.

Regardless of what breed you have, each dog is different, and you should always start out small to test their abilities.  If your dog bounds in and happy paddles away, you're probably good to go, but if he stands at the edge of the water staring at you, here are a few tips to help him along:

• Start out in a quiet area without a lot of noise and activity.  Like children, dogs can become frightened and confused if there’s a lot of noise and activity around them. The object is to keep them calm and focused on the swimming lesson.
• Never throw them in or force them.  Start out by slowly putting them in a shallow section that does not submerge them.  Allow them to get used to the feel of the water and be aware of any signs of anxiety.
• Use encouragement, keep your voice upbeat and positive, and use toys or treats to help draw them into the water on their own steam, rather than forcing them to stay there.
• As you move deeper into the water and your dog can no longer stand on the bottom, start out by supporting their weight until they start paddling.  Even if you have put your dog in a life vest, support him at his midsection and hindquarters until he is paddling on his own and feeling comfortable.
• Show him the exit.  Especially when you're in a pool, make sure your dog knows how to get out.  He should be able to get out easily and not run the risk of getting too tired and drowning.
• Keep a close eye on your pal.  Even champion swimmers can wander off to check out something interesting and get lost or caught in a current.  Just like children, you want to make sure your dog is playing safely in the water.

With so many puppies around for spring, we thought a refresher in some basic obedience commands might come in handy and there is hardly a command as useful as "down."

This command is generally easiest taught from a "sit" position, though you will often find that your K-9 is either a "down" dog or a "sit" dog, meaning they have one position that is more comfortable for them.  Though they should know both commands, using the one most comfortable for your dog will save you both a lot of stress.

• Put your dog in a "sit" position and stand or kneel in front of them.  Hold a treat slightly under his nose, and lower it slowly to the floor.  Ideally your dog will follow the treat to the ground and lie down, if so give him the treat and praise him.
• If your dog is not responding to the food lure, try putting slight pressure on their shoulder blade, pushing down and to the side.  Praise your dog when he drops down. 
  * Laying down is a submissive position, and if your dog feels pressured into it they could resist, making this an unhappy command for them.  If your dog responds badly to pressure on his shoulder, do not force him down.  Instead try placing a treat down on the ground that he cannot get until he lays down.  He may stare out it for a while, but chances are if you are patient enough he will eventually lie down. Praise him profusely when he does.
• Once your dog is consistently laying down, delay the release of the treat.  With your dog lying down tell him "wait", then "good" when you release the treat.  If you dog ever pops up before you are ready for him, do not reward him, put him back in his down.

*Tip: Hard floors can be uncomfortable for short haired dogs, pay attention to where your dogs like to rest as that may help your training.

Since boxers are known for their intelligence, we have no doubt that Alicia will pick up any command you teach her in a flash.  We're doubly sure that this girl's bubbly personality and fun loving nature will make any home a little brighter.  Alicia is only a couple months old, so she has a lot of learning and growing to do, and is looking for a loving home to do it in.  Will it be yours?

There's nothing like a joyful greeting from your dog after a long day of work.  Your dog is always excited to greet you at the dog, and sometimes when they jump up to give you a kiss, you feel like your world is right again. However, a jumping dog is not always so cute, and can even be dangerous, especially for children or older people.

In most cases, dogs jump up for two reasons - to show affection or to get attention. This is a fairly natural behavior that you can observe among dogs at play, and one they don't realize is wrong.  To correct your dog's jumping, you don't want to punish him, but rather show set boundaries (punishment will tell him you don't want his love and affection). 

It is of course easiest to set these boundaries during puppyhood, but an older dog can still get the message, it just may be a little harder, if you have been inadvertently encouraging him to jump for years.  

When you dog jumps up, do not pet him, smile, or show any kind of affection as this serve as a reward and encourage him to jump.  Instead, twist your body to the side so that he misses his target, or turn your back on him.  Do not smile or make eye contact while he's attempting to jump on you.  Once all four feet are on the ground, greet him affectionately. 

If this subtle correction doesn't work, redirect your dog by giving him the command "sit" when you're coming through the door, and he's about to greet you. 

The main trick to stopping jumping is consistency, not just on your part, but from everyone in your household - and even guests coming in the door.  Even if you're okay if your dog jumps up in certain situations, your dog doesn't understand "sometimes." It's all or nothing for him.

As your dog is getting the hang of things and greeting you nicely with all four feet on the ground, praise him effusively.  You may also want to call on some friends to help with practice, as some dogs are fairly calm when greeting their owners, but jump on visitors.  Practicing with new people will help to reinforce your desired behavior and allow your dog understand that it's never acceptable to jump.

Though adopted dogs can make some of the best and most loyal pets around, they can occasionally experience separation anxiety.  Though it’s certainly understandable for a dog that has been abandoned to worry about being left again,  separation anxiety can show up in dogs that have been in your home since puppyhood, espcially if there is a change such a move or a new baby. Unfortunately it is the dog’s fears that cause him to act out and become destructive and this ends up being one of the top reasons dogs are turned into shelters.

Signs of separation anxiety can be chewing up the furniture, digging or scratching at the door, howling, barking or whining, and even going to the bathroom all over the house.  Unfortunately it can be tough to determine if your dog is going through separation anxiety, or just untrained – especially for owners that have just brought home a new dog.

The best indicator is if the behavior happens right after you shut the door to leave.  If your dog doesn’t seem to exhibit destructive behaviors when you are home, but rather follows every move you make, you may have an anxious dog.  If you want to test out your theory, close yourself into another room that your dog can’t get to and see what happens.  Though many dogs may whine at the door if they know you’re in there, does your dog go above and beyond that, trying to tear the door down, or act out in other ways? 

Sometimes all it will take is simple assurances that your dog is still important to you by making sure he gets plenty of attention and playtime – especially before and after you leave.  By exercising him before you leave, your dog will be tired, and likely to be more relaxed when you are gone.  You may also try leaving him with an old shirt or something with your scent on it to provide comfort while you’re gone.

If these tricks don’t work, or if you have a new dog, work on building up the time he’s alone. Put him in his crate, or a room he cannot see you for a short time and then come back.  Reward him profusely for good behavior.  Gradually build up the time your dog is spending alone until he learns you will always return and is more confident in being alone.  Make sure to leave him with toys, or a kong filled with peanut butter to provide some distraction for his alone time.

If you’re still struggling after trying some of these methods, you may need external help.  Your vet may be able to help by proscribing anxiety medication, or consider doggie day care so that he is busy playing with other dogs, and leans not to worry so much about missing you.

Mya is a corgi puppy that brings goodness to everyone she meets! She is looking for some playmates - of the human or canine kind! This little lady will keep you smiling for years to come!

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Dog Whisperer Cesar Milan says that new puppy owners often make the mistake of endlessly worrying about finding the right puppy treats or bed. They spend little or no time worrying about how or what they will teach their new puppy. Here are some tips from Cesar to help you establish your role as pack leader:

•  When getting a new pet, make sure to set aside time every day to provide mental exercise by maintaining rules, boundaries and limitations. When these needs are met the affection you give to your dog will be channeled as a reward.
• Create a schedule that includes a daily 45-minute power-walk in the morning. This is critical for your dog's health, both physical and mental.
• Enlist your whole family in the process of bringing a new dog home. Discuss what their responsibilities will be before the puppy arrives.
• Make sure you find a breed that fits your lifestyle. For example, more active breeds, like hunting and herding dogs, require more physical exercise to stay physically and mentally content. 
• Always walk out the door ahead of your dog when leaving the house. This will show your dog who is in the leadership role
• On walks, make sure that your dog is not in front of you, pulling you down the street. Instead, keep your dog to your side or behind you. This will also demonstrate to your dog that you are the alpha figure.
• Give the puppy something to do before you share food, water, toys or affection. This way the dog earns his treat. For example, have your puppy perform the Sit or Down command. 
• Set aside a budget for unexpected circumstances, like medical bills and training classes. A healthy, well-trained dog makes a wonderful pet.

A puppy will be set up to fail if his new family doesn't learn these lessons before he arrives. Remember, puppies don't crave a fancy treat or bed; they need you to become their stable pack leader to demonstrate love in a way they understand.

A dog taking a bone and running outside to bury it is a stereotypical act that we see all the time in the movies, but may not be quite so cute if it happens to be in the middle of your prize rose garden. 

Dog trainers and vets agree that digging is a natural and normal dog behavior, and in many dogs it is an instinct they were bred for as hunters to dig prey out of their dens.  Though most of us aren’t using our pets to help being home dinner any more, dog digging is still a behavior that many dogs exhibit, and can be caused by many things. 

Like many destructive behaviors, dogs often dig out of boredom and if they are offered better stimulation or more exercise the digging will diminish or go away entirely. 

Some dogs, especially those that spent a lot of time outside are trying to create a shelter, or a protective area.  The digging may be alleviated by providing a dog house, or even a wading pool in hot weather.

Other dogs are well-exercised, loved and protected, but simply enjoy the feeling of digging. Certain breeds, such as terriers, dachshunds and beagles may fall into this category, and in this case training comes into play in a couple of ways.  Obedience classes solve a variety of problems as your dog looks to you for guidance before taking on actions on his own. But the perfect solution may be to combine obedience classes with the creation of a digging spot for your dog.  This could be a sandbox, or just a small plot of dirt that’s all his. 

Though you may never entirely eradicate the digging by training your dog to do his digging in one spot you save your yard, and yourself quite a bit of frustration, and make everyone happy.

One of the most basic and necessary commands your dog should know is "stay," unfortunately for some dogs, getting this one down can be tough. Here are a few tips to a great stay:

• Start with your dog sitting or lying down as he is less likely to move from those positions and use a leash to ensure control.
• Stand directly in front of him and in a firm tone say "stay" while holding your palm flat out in front of him (like a stop signal).
• Move a short distance away and return to him.  Praise him with "good stay," then give him a treat, ensuring he continues in the sit/down position. Then release him with "ok" or "free."
• Gradually increase the time you ask your dog to stay, as well as the distance between you and your dog.  As your dog succeeds you will want to go out of his line of vision and into other rooms while he stays.

Troubleshooting:

• If your dog moves from his stay before you have released him, gently but firmly put him back in the spot where he was originally told to stay.
• You want your dog to succeed at this, so make sure to increase your time and distance so that he is holding his stay at a rate he can still manage.  If he is breaking is stay, reduce the time/distance to one is able to achieve.
• If your dog continues to get up, check your own actions.  If you are talking constantly, moving your arms around, or showing him the treat, he may be getting distracted by your movement and voice.  There should be very little movement and talking, especially when you are just starting out.  Your dog will mimic your inaction.  Also, don't show your dog the treat until you are ready to give it to him.  Many dogs get too excited when they see a treat and lose focus on everything else.

Brigatta is only a few weeks old, but she is looking for a place to call home and someone to teach her all the skills she needs to know. We believe she's a Mountain Dog/Shepherd so she may grow up to be quite a girl, but right now she's just about the cutest fall of fluff you could ever find!

If you've been following along with our trick series we thought we'd take a different turn this week, and share a tip and a video from our friends over at LoveYourDog.com to teach you how to play dead.

1. Have your dog lay down on his stomach.
2. Gently roll him on his side and say "play dead" or "take a nap"
3. While he's lying on his side, keeping his down on the floor, repeat the cue "play dead" or "take a nap."
4. Encourage him to stay still on the floor for a few seconds, then say "ok" or "Wake up!"
5. Let him stand up and reward immediately.

Want to see it live? Watch their video here!

Sound fun, but need someone to practice with? Meet Foxie.