All Dog Adventures | 4111 W. Clay St, Richmond, VA 23230 | 804.355.7737
Hours: Mon-Thurs 7am-7pm, Fri 7am-6pm
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Some owners (none of you, of course) allow their dogs to pull them to greet other dogs. Sometimes the dogs are strangers. Are you sure the dog you are being pulled to greet is friendly? Often, the owner being pulled will say, “oh, but he’s friendly”. The other dog may snap or worse. Just because your dog is a social butterfly, doesn’t mean all dogs are. Always ask if your dogs can say “hi” before they approach.
For those keeping track, I'll pick up little Journey tomorrow.
Beckett's favorite treats:
Here he is ready to share.
Place liver, egg, fish, broth and parsley flakes in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Mix corn and oatmeal's, and then add liver mixture. Mix well. Once mixed, batter should be like a slightly wet brownie mix. Add more broth or water if necessary. Pour mixture onto well-greased cookie sheet and bake at 250 degrees for 1 ½ to 2 hours. Cut into squares while still warm. Cool, and then freeze what you won’t use in 1 week or less.
When not here at All Dog Adventures to have a great SmartSwim in our pool, you can let your dog play with the water hose. I have Jody sit and stay until I've watered a plant then give her permission to go after the water by releasing her from that stay. If she gets up too soon, I just cut the water off at the sprayer. She looks like, "where did it go?!" and sits again. She's got the plan now and loves this game. It's going to be hotter (can it possibly be) for the next several days, so go have some training fun with your dog.
I truly think we have some of the best daycare dogs. They go for walks nicely on Gentle Leaders mostly, they play in small groups under supervision, they get One on One training/play with staff, treadmill, SmartSwim. They all learn to come in the building under control but excited. When someone moves, we really miss part of our family.
Need a new idea for some great treats for your dog? Try freezing strawberries, banana, pineapple, or peaches. It's much better for you dog than the artificially flavored treats in the grocery store, and it's much less expensive since you can use the over-ripe ones you don't want to eat. The dog doesn't know the difference and LOVES the flavor. Jody loves watermelon the best, next to bananas.
Your dog is always learning something. Is it what you want her to learn? When you walk to the car with your dog on leash, one of you is walking the other. It's just practice. You dog might be practicing to pull you everywhere. You might be practicing to have a dog walk next to your side. When your dog barks AT you and you givephysical attention or verbal attention, she has trained you to get what she wanted. So, the learning process goes on.
I'm getting a little girl golden retriever on the 30th. One of the instructors asked me what concerned me most. I'm really busy, have 2 other dogs, and love to just relax. I am concerned about the time factor but I want this pup to just be a great dog when she grows up. I have a pretty good track record with previous dogs but each dog learns things I didn't know 5 years ago, maybe it's a different trick or it's just have a better recall. Watching puppies learn is the most fun.
Ill be putting videos up of the baby girl, Journey, learning all kinds of things - even the naughty ones if I get it on film. Of the 3 girls in the litter, I'm not sure which will be mine yet. This one is really cute at 4 weeks old.
Getting new pup is a big responsibility and fun! First, there is potty training, getting up at night to let puppy outside. Then there is the teaching of manners like not jumping on people, and going to classes. So, the first year or so of your puppy's life is just a learning adventure. The pup is going to learn something during that year, whether it's something you want your pup learn or it's something the puppy decides is much more fun but naughty, is all up to you.
I wanted to talk about puppies, not just because I am getting one in a few weeks, but because there are so many coming through our classes right now. One that is very different in this Portugese Podengo. In the picture, Bandit is only 11 weeks old. What a cutie!!
The daycare dogs get to go outside, play with their friends or go for a walk then come inside to air-conditioning. The rotations give the dogs the exercise they need and play while not staying outside all day during this strange summer we're having. It was so funny on one of the impossible days of heat this week, on a second One on One training session several of the employees just gathered around each dog in the air-conditioning and played, petted, treated and loved on them. Everyone was happy not to go outside on that 103 degree afternoon. We also let a few dogs at a time romp inside in the room. Will August be a cold wave?
What a week this has been! The record setting heat has been ..... interesting, I guess. The SmartSwim we did Tuesday night was a big hit for those who were here. Not only did they get to see what we do with the dogs, but there were discount coupons and FREE coupons to draw from to thank those who braved the elements to attend class. It was so much fun to hand out rewards to the students.
Also, Susan Garrett (awesome and innovative dog trainer) has been giving Blogs and videos on her method of achieving "brilliant" RECALLS. This morning the video to precede a DVD she'll put out was in the newsletter. If you are having or have had trouble getting your dog to "come" when called this is the video for you. Certainly, I am reviewing it with my dogs. They can use a refresher course on RECALLS.
This weekend is the AMERICAN SPANIEL CLUB'S dog show at the Raceway. It will be fun to watch if you want to enjoy the cooler weather by seeing wonderful dogs.
One more meaningful event that happened to me this week. A person whose dog I had worked with as a puppy in her home called a few weeks ago to ask if I could come to teach him something new. Zorro is a golden now 11 with many health issues. When I walked in he got up off his cool floor in the kitchen to say hi. He reminded me of the time that has gone by and my old girl, Carly. Fighting back the tears, Molly, Zorro's mom, and I sat on the floor while I fed him hotdogs and other treats. I worked on his natural "pawing" to hit the Easy Button (like Staples' button). He loved it. Molly misses the long walks they use to take together so wanted to give him something to do. There's nothing old about his brain!! So, some games like the "shell game" - find the treat under the cup, touch the bell with your nose, put your chin on the floor were put on the To Do list. All these games can be done lying down or standing which is easy for older dogs.
So, to honor old dogs, their great owners, and Zorro, attached is this sweet picture. Kiss your dogs today.
I am so thankful for the puppy class I am teaching right now. It reminds me of all the things I need to prepare for as I look forward to getting my puppy on July 24th. the next year will be busy and full of activity to make sure my pup's first impressions are ones that will set her up for success in all areas of her life. The pups that were in class last night are doing so well. There are things that come up, like excessive barking, that the owner's previous dogs didn't do. Every dog is here to teach us lots of things about dog training but also about life. We never stop learning whether it's about people, dogs, methods of training, or just the mechanics of managing our time. When dog owners say "my dog should know that", I get a bit impatient. How long did it take me to learn to manage a website, run the business, drive a car, type, or eat healthy. I have to practice to keep what I learned sharp. So do dogs. Practice and patience.
I hope those who are interested are practicing the things needed for the Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dog tests which will be held JULY 16, FRIDAY at 6pm.
The daycare dogs are still enjoying playing for short spells outside in spite of the heat. They are getting their One on One training adventures inside and doing the treadmill. On Tuesday, Thursday and Friday many of the dogs have signed up to go swimming. That really cools everyone off.
Thinking about dog training tips every day helps me focus on what dogs and people struggle with during their every day living. This week I taught a puppy class and had a few puppy in-home training sessions. Those people who were consistent in the new behaviors for their puppies were having the least number of problems. Whether it was "potty training" - taking the pup out of a consistent schedule or having the pup sit a the door to get her leash on or greeting peoples with a sit, the pups who knew how to get what they wanted at that moment because it was always the same were more focused on their owners. For future adult dogs, these pups will be more likely to "come" when called, not jump on people, and have great house behavior. So, today think about the things you are wishy washy when hanging out with your best dog friend.
Ok, so it's a very strange June with all this heat. Let's hope July and August make up for it and are cool. The inside building is very warm. We have fans and water but it is hot. The agility classes will be outside where it is shaded and a bit cooler. The Flextime Classes will still be inside. Dress to be cool. We will put water out for the dogs and for people. One of the students called it "dog training and weight lose combo" . I love people with a sense of humor and are positive thinkers.
So, many people complain about dogs jumping on guests or even owners. If your dog sees jumping on someone as a reward, she will do it again. These are the rewards your dog gets for jumping: 1) eye contact 2) touching (such as pushing dog off) 3) talk to the dog (such as “get off, down , down , down”) Remove the reward (turn away), give your dog another something to do to get rewards, and practice.
Summer isn't officially here but the temperatures certainly don't reflect that. The dogs are swimming every chance they get during daycare. Check out the "Watch our Videos" at the upper right of the home page screen and see Boomer swimming. He has a life jacket on since it was his first time in our pool. The way he was swimming, he won't need it again!! He loved the water. All dogs swim with a staff member. The dogs who have been swimming regularly just get to chase a ball and get a lot of exercise. It's nonstop swim. The treadmill is also a great way to get more exercise here.
Susan Garrett teaches the "It's Yer Choice" game of impulse control. It can be expanded to any training including obedience skills and agility skills. What fun!!
