Dog Training Community

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)

Train your dog to walk next to a stroller

Jeff Millman — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 02:08:00 GMT

Walking a dog while trying to navigate a stroller can be extremely frustrating. Besides the normal frustrations with a pulling dog, there is also the danger and concern of a baby in the stroller. Visions of the dog pulling the stroller over and seeing the baby get hurt are not something that any parent wants to witness. So, what often happens? The dog often receives less walks because he is not able to walk nicely next to the stroller. That is a shame. Your dog will just get more rambunctious with...(read more)

The importance of handling and grooming puppies

Jeff Millman — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 03:48:00 GMT

Last week I saw a client that I have not seen since her puppy was 5 months old. I met with her for just one session to help her get on the right track and talk about basic puppy strategies including socialization, jumping, puppy biting and preventative strategies including separation anxiety and aggresssion. Her dog is now a 2-year-old, 55 lb. German Shepherd mix and my client hired me because he has been biting. He bites when his collar is touched, he bites when he is startled when he is sleeping...(read more)

I don't care if my dogs think they are better than me

Jeff Millman — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:59:00 GMT

How can this be possible? A professional dog trainer that makes his living training dogs admitting that dogs can actually think they are better? What? Is this some new-age dog training philosophy? Am I nuts? No. This is just common sense that flies in the face of the teachings of scores of dog trainers out there that are stuck in the 1960s methods of dog training that would feel right at home in the popular series Mad Men. Let me explain. You probably have heard the terms "alpha" or maybe...(read more)

Study shows dogs are getting smarter

Jeff Millman — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 05:12:00 GMT

There is a new study published in New Scientist that may change the way people view the cognitive abilities of dogs. Dog guardians around the world might now have scientific proof to back up their comments that their dog is extremely smart and knows what their guardians are thinking. The experiments have taken the argument a step closer to proving that dogs have a limited "theory of mind", or the capacity to understand the desires, motivations and intentions of others. In the past most...(read more)

Dog training tip - don't bribe your dog

Jeff Millman — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 03:55:00 GMT

To effectively use positive reinforcement to train your dog, you need to understand the difference between bribing and rewarding. Bribing a dog occurs when the treat or reward is shown up front before the behavior is requested or while the dog starts his behavior in response. Bribing often occurs when people call their dog. Someone might say, “Come” and not get the result they are looking for, so they show a treat to their dog or shake a treat jar. Then, their dog comes to them. Bribing...(read more)

How to train your dog not to jump on guests

Jeff Millman — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 05:31:00 GMT

Jumping on guests is a normal behavior that dogs exhibit, but through proper management and training, you can change your dog’s behavior. With inappropriate behaviors, it is important to identify what changes in the environment start the pattern of inappropriate behaviors. If you do not intervene at all when guests arrive, the normal chain of events might look like this. • Dog hears the doorbell and/or knocking on the door • Dog gets excited and starts barking • Guest appears...(read more)

How should puppies greet other dogs?

Jeff Millman — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 02:28:00 GMT

Very frequently I will see a new puppy guardian on a walk telling their puppy not to jump on other dogs. They will say, “No Jumping” and pull their puppy away from other dogs, or hold the leash so they can’t jump. Usually as long as the other dog is not aggressive, puppies can jump on and play a bit rough with the the other dog. That is how dogs play and is normal puppy behavior. Puppies can also learn that it is appropriate to jump on other dogs and not to exhibit this behavior...(read more)

How to prepare your dog for a new baby

Jeff Millman — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:54:00 GMT

Having a baby and getting ready for the big day? Don't forget about the importance of planning ahead and making sure your dog is ready for the arrival of your new baby. Pre-baby strategies Here are some training tips you can practice before the baby arrives. I have many clients that hire me months ahead of time to work on these strategies. You can avoid surprises by practing well in advance. Use a baby doll as a prop to get used to holding a baby while you are walking the dog, managing his behavior...(read more)

Five ways of using positive reinforcement to train a dog

Jeff Millman — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 05:30:00 GMT

There are five ways of using positive reinforcement to train a dog to do behaviors. 1. Reward Acceptable Behavior Dogs do what works to benefit them. We can use this to our advantage by paying attention to what they are doing and give them what they want BEFORE they make a mistake. A good example is if you are working on teaching your dog not to jump, make sure you talk to her and let her know “Good girl!” and give her a reward when you walk into a room and she does not jump on you. 2. Ignore Inappropriate...(read more)

Study shows dogs yawn, show human empathy

Jeff Millman — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 11:19:00 GMT

A study reported in the Los Angeles Times found that human yawns are contagious to dogs, a sign that man's best friend might be capable of a rudimentary form of empathy. While dogs are extremely good at visual learning (read Patricia McConnell's The Other End of the Leash for a study on this topic), they have consistently puzzled scientists for their lack of obvious self-awareness. Unlike chimpanzees and possibly elephants, tt has not been shown that dogs are able to recognize themselves...(read more)

How to teach a dog to stay

Jeff Millman — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:34:00 GMT

A solid “Stay” is an important behavior for dogs to know. Once your dog has a foundation of staying when you ask, you will have much more control and your dog will be calmer and more pleasant around guests and social activities. Wouldn’t it be fantastic to go to an outdoor café and ask your dog to lie nicely next to you while you enjoy a cup of coffee? If that seems impossible right now, keep reading for the steps to eventually have your dog "Stay". The Three Challenges of Stay It is easy...(read more)

Dangerous side effects of dog vaccinations

Jeff Millman — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 05:37:00 GMT

Vaccinations are a necessary part of caring for a dog of any age, but there are precautions you should take to avoid complications. There is an ever-increasing amount of information available to suggest that dogs are receiving too many vaccinations. There currently isn't one agreed upon solution to the frequency of vaccinations, or even if they are all necessary. The core vaccines that many veterinarians agree are necessary include rabies, parvo, distemper, hepatitis and rabies. There are others...(read more)

Puppy training tip - use the leash inside

Jeff Millman — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 04:05:00 GMT

One of the most effective ways to prevent bad puppy behaviors from happening and help with overall training strategies is to have your puppy wear a leash inside and trail it behind him wherever he goes. You should always either watch your puppy or manage his behavior by putting him safely in a crate or other puppy-proofed area. If you are feeling guilty about using the crate, read this post about getting over the guilt of crate training. Reasons for Trailing a Leash Prevent destruction. The more...(read more)

Great Pyrenees packs attacking tourists in the alps

Jeff Millman — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 05:30:00 GMT

As reported in the London Times, Pyrenean mountain dogs (known as Great Pyrenees in the United States) have been attacking tourists in the French Alps. The Pyrenean dogs, also known as Patous, were brought in to protect sheep in 1992 with the reapparance of the wolf in France. Pyreneans are known as sheep guarding dogs and are very good at their jobs. With the arrival of 1,000 Patous, the number of sheep deaths fell from 3,700 in 2005 to 2,500 in 2006. The problems have been directed towards the...(read more)

Dog training leash walking tips - be more interesting

Jeff Millman — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 04:27:00 GMT

Training a dog to walk nicely when on leash can be very frustrating and can seem daunting. My job as a dog trainer is to break down goals into small chunks for my clients to focus on. One of the important strategies that I recommend is to be more interesting than the environment. When a dog pulls she is often interested in investigating something that is in the distance. If you make yourself really interesting and fun activities start when she appears by your side, then she will be more motivated...(read more)

Dogs suffer because of ridiculous rules in Saudi Arabia

Jeff Millman — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 21:33:00 GMT

As reported in the Chicago Tribune, A prohibition went into effect on Wednesday that bans selling cats and dogs and walking dogs in Riyadh , Saudi Arabia. This was decided because men and women often use their dogs as an excuse to strike up a conversation. In this strict Islamic country, they want to keep the human sexes apart. Violators will get their dogs confiscated by agents of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, the official name of the religious police, tasked...(read more)