Dog Training Community

Dog crate training tip - set up a long term confinement area

Jeff Millman — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 13:37:00 GMT

It is important to set up provisions for a long-term confinement area even if you don’t think you are going to use it every day. There will be times (and there should be – dinner and a movie with your loved ones!) that you will need to leave your puppy for a longer period of time than he can hold it. If you haven’t thought about this ahead of time, you will be stuck, or worse, your puppy will have an accident in the crate or destroy something in your home. You should feel that it...(read more)

Wintertime dog training tips

Jeff Millman — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 09:13:00 GMT

Dogs and snow don't always mix. The salt can hurt their paws and cause them to limp. There are a few ways that you can help your pooch have a more comfortable snowy walk. Did you know that if you take fresh snow and rub it directly on your dog's paw it can help rub off the salt? If the salt is really bad, this fix might be short-lived. Be cautious when crossing streets that are freshly salted, because dogs can have a tendency to stop directly in the middle of the street. Not good with traffic...(read more)

Winter dog training activity - proof behaviors

Jeff Millman — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 02:51:00 GMT

Looking for an indoor activity to work on with your dog when the weather prohibits extended training and exercise? Try proofing behaviors that you have taught your dog. Proofing behaviors is a fun activity that you can do inside with your dog and work on fine-tuning the behaviors that he already knows. Proofing involves making sure your dog REALLY understands the meaning of the cues that you give him and doesn't just guess the behavior that you are looking for. A really well trained dog with...(read more)

Do dogs show resentment over different treatment?

Jeff Millman — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 01:47:00 GMT

There was an interesting study at the University of Vienna, Austria's Clever Dog Lab that determined that dog's react negatively when they view other dogs getting better treatment. They asked dogs that sat side by side to "give paw" and rewarded one dog with food and did not reward the other. The unrewarded dog stopped working. Friederike Range, who led the experiments, said she wasn't surprised at the dogs reaction, since wolves are known to cooperate with one another and appear...(read more)

Feeling frustrated with your dog? Give him more time and exercise.

Jeff Millman — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 02:07:00 GMT

I just returned from a trip out of town to visit my wife's family for Thanksgiving. Fortunately our friends and family that we stay with allow us to bring our dogs with us when we spend the night. We also spent the last night in a hotel that allows dogs. We even brought our three dogs to Thanksgiving dinner. Their behavior always makes me very proud. They were gentle with the kids, they did not try and steal food and they played appropriately with my brother-in-law's puppy. What is the secret...(read more)

Your dog refuses to walk? Try this.

Jeff Millman — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 12:54:00 GMT

It is not uncommon for dogs to refuse to walk sometimes when they are outside. They might just "put the brakes on", or they might sit or lie down. If your dog is a really young puppy, you might want to just take a break and let them take the world in. You do not have to worry about your dog becoming lazy. This is not a sign of a personality trait that leads to a lazy older dog. Often it revolves around a puppy being ever overstimulated or tired. A puppy's energy level moves up and down...(read more)

Dog training tip - what does your dog's name mean to him?

Jeff Millman — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 03:37:00 GMT

"Jake!, Jake!, Jake!" I was in the park with my client and we were working on off leash control strategies with his rambunctious one-year-old Border Collie mix. Jake was not too interested in anything at the moment besides the squirrel jumping from branch to branch in a big oak tree. My client was calling Jake repeatedly before I asked him what he wanted Jake to do when he called his name. My client told me that he wanted Jake to come to him when he called. I then asked him if he wanted...(read more)

How to interview a dog walker

Jeff Millman — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:55:00 GMT

I am constantly amazed at how many new dog walking services pop up all over Chicago. I would imagine this is consistent with other big cities. With downsizing and people's desires to run their own business, dog walking is often a natural fit for the dog lovers of the world. But, like any other business, there are better options than others. How do you sift through all of the dog walkers to choose the best one for your dog? Here are some questions and strategies that I recommend that you take...(read more)

Overwhelmed by one puppy? How would you like sixteen puppies?

Jeff Millman — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 01:48:00 GMT

Retro the Golden Retriever in Rowley, MA recently had a litter of 16 puppies. Dogs usually are full term at 9 weeks, but Retro had a c-section at 7 weeks due to the size of the litter. Indya, Sheehan, Retro's owner, talks about the 24-hour task of feeding and care for the unusually large litter. See the video of the litter and happy Mom....(read more)

Easy way to train your dog to drop things

Jeff Millman — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:44:00 GMT

This is a quick and easy training exercise for dogs of all ages. 7-week-old puppies can learn this as easily as older dogs. This is also one of the most important behaviors your dog can learn. Why is this so important? For one, it can potentially save your dog's life. Dogs investigate the world with their mouths. This often results in them grabbing anything and everything that they can. If they eat the wrong thing (like Halloween candy !) it can prove fatal. One of my Collies, Ranger, grabbed...(read more)

Halloween dog training tips

Jeff Millman — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:09:00 GMT

Halloween is a great opportunity for dog training. The uniqueness of the holiday provides some dog training experiences that you can take advantage of to help your dog get to the next level in his socialization and guest manners skills. Socialize Your Puppy Halloween is a prime opportunity to expose your puppy to new and interesting sights and sounds. Bring treats with you on every walk and say, "Yes!" or 'Click and Treat' every time your puppy sees halloween decorations, hears...(read more)

Dogs of war have new hospital

Jeff Millman — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:55:00 GMT

A new $15 million hospital opened in San Antonio, Texas to care for dogs wounded in combat. "We act as the Walter Reed of the veterinary world," said Army Col. Bob Vogelsang, hospital director, referring to the Washington military medical center that treats severely wounded troops. Before the new facility opened, dogs were previously treated in a facility that opened in 1968. Since Sept. 11, 2001, demand for combat-ready dogs has increased dramatically. They currently also train dogs at...(read more)

Should you choose private or group dog training?

Jeff Millman — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 02:37:00 GMT

I taught hundreds of dog training classes for two years before switching to all private sessions five years ago. I enjoyed teaching classes but enjoy the flexibility and autonomy of private sessions more. But, I still see value in group classes and often refer clients to other group classes in Chicago. Are you currently deciding between group and private classes and don't know which option to choose? Here are my thoughts on both options. Socialization Whether you choose private training or group...(read more)

Looking for a dog trainer? Do your homework.

Jeff Millman — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:52:00 GMT

Everyone is a critic. If you have a job specialty I am sure that you look at others performing your job with a critical eye. Maybe they are less efficient, charge too much or have a questionable work ethic. I am the same way. I am always critical of other dog trainers and enjoy watching other trainers work to hone my skills of assessing a situation and formulating a strategy that I might do differently. I first put my criticism into two categories: humane and non-humane, and then I filter through...(read more)

Improve your dog training skills - have someone watch you train

Jeff Millman — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:29:00 GMT

Want to take your dog training skills to the next level? Enlist the help of someone to watch you train and give you constructive help based on the following criteria: Consistency Make sure you are clear and consistent with your verbal cues or hand signals. Did you say, "Come" or "Come here"? For a "Stand" cue, is your palm facing your dog or away from him? Say It Once Repeating cues is the fastest way to dog training frustration. If you want reliability (who doesn't...(read more)

Can doggie daycare cause dog aggression and behavior problems?

Jeff Millman — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:36:00 GMT

Dog daycares are quite common in Chicago. Especially these days with the economy in shambles, people have a tendency to work longer hours and might even need to take on a second job to make ends meet. It is easy to feel guilty about dogs not getting enough exercise or attention. So many people look into dog daycare to provide their dogs with necessary exercise and social interactions. But, can these trips to daycare cause more problems than they help? In a short answer, I would say, yes. Don't...(read more)

Assess a dog’s anxiety to treat dog to dog aggression

Jeff Millman — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 02:12:00 GMT

Dogs exhibit specific signs of stress when they are under duress. If you know what to look for in your dog aggressive dog, you can help him remain calm around dogs. To do this, you need to learn his specific signals and then move him away when stress occurs. If day in and day out your dog is kept comfortable around other dogs, he will learn that he doesn’t need to be “on guard” when dogs around. This will lower his anxiety. If you also pair all meetings with FANTASTIC treats, your...(read more)

Puppy housetraining troubleshooting tips

Jeff Millman — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:41:00 GMT

Housetraining a dog can be a very frustrating experience. Especially if you had a dog in the past that was unusually easy to housetrain, your current dog might seem "flawed" or you might be at your wits end. Here are some general tips to keep in mind and some ideas to try if you are frustrated with your puppy. Physical Abilities Puppies can hold their bladders approximately one hour per month of age. However, they can usually hold it much longer at night, so you need to pay attention to...(read more)

Ways to keep dog training sessions interesting

Jeff Millman — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 05:08:00 GMT

Have you ever gotten bored working on "Sit, Down and Stay?" Sometimes it helps to have some suggestions for ways to make training a bit more interesting. Here are some simple ways to keep it fun for you and your dog. Reserve top tier chew toys, bones or treats for a point in the training session when your dog improves his performance. For instance, when he holds a Stay for a longer time than the last session, give him his chew toy as a reward. Hide Kongs or other stuffable toys around the...(read more)

Change a dog training cue

Jeff Millman — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:02:00 GMT

Did you ever want to change a cue or teach your dog a new cue for an old behavior? It is actually very easy to do this with just a little planning. Why would you want to teach your dog a new cue for a behavior that he already knows? One common example is when someone wants to teach their dog another cue for Come When Called. My dogs know many different cues for this behavior including the verbal “Come” as well as a whistle, and various visual cues. I use a different cue depending on how...(read more)

Don't spray your dog or throw cans with coins

Jeff Millman — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 02:38:00 GMT

I was speaking with a client the other day about her dog that is afraid of men. Her dog is a rescue, had a rough background including some abuse by the previous owner. She had always been a little skittish around men, but until recently she had not been growling and now my client was concerned because it was becoming more frequent and severe. I asked what she had tried before speaking with me. She told me that another trainer told her to use a spray bottle filled with water and spray her every time...(read more)

Why I don't like retractable leashes

Jeff Millman — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 17:08:00 GMT

I am not a fan of retractable leashes. There are dog lovers everywhere that swear by how wonderful they are and use them every day. While I think they are humane, (always my main criteria for even considering a dog product) I think they potentially cause more training problems than benefits. Dogs are taught to pull. When the leash is in retractable mode (not locked in place) your dog will always feel tension of the leash and will still be able to move forward. This can cause confusion. I recommend...(read more)

Sensible Harness for dogs product review

Jeff Millman — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:23:00 GMT

If you have followed my blog, forum posts or radio show you know that I am completely against the use of prong collars, choke chains and shock collars for dogs. Besides the fundamental belief that dogs should be taught using humane methods, there is no excuse to use those outdated training tools because there are humane alternatives that allow anyone to painlessly control their dogs. One of those tools is the SENSE-ible or Sensible harness. While there are no dog training miracles, I can confidently...(read more)

Five biggest mistakes new puppy guardians make

Jeff Millman — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:48:00 GMT

My clients often hire me to help rehabilitate their dog's problems. Sometimes they recently adopted an older dog that already has behavior problems, while others have had their dogs since they were puppies and were lax in one or more areas that resulted in behavior problems forming over a period of time. One reason why this is a common problem is because all dogs develop differently. You might have had multiplie dogs from puppy to adulthood and never did any preventative work with any of them...(read more)

Use Kongs to cure dog boredom

Jeff Millman — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:43:00 GMT

Kongs are one of the best antidotes to cure dog boredom. I sometimes have to remind myself to use them as well because I get out of practice, but every time I use them it reinforces how great they are. I always talk to my clients about them and thought you might need a reminder as well. If you don't know, Kongs are just one brand of a type of dog toy that allows food or treats to be stuffed inside. They are made of hard rubber and can be washed easily in the dishwasher to remove food residue...(read more)