Thoughts of a Professional Dog Trainer

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...(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...(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...(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...(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...(read more)

How to clicker train your dog

Jeff Millman — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 05:30:00 GMT

Using the clicker is a fantastic way to train dogs. If you missed my last post about the background of the clicker you can read it here. Now that you are all ready to start using the clicker, let's get started! Do you need a clicker? You can purchase...(read more)

What is dog clicker training?

Jeff Millman — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 05:30:00 GMT

Clicker training is a positive reinforcement tool that can be used to train dogs. It can also be used to train dolphins, whales, lions, and people! Like many tools in our world it can seem confusing at first, but allow me to help break it down into bite-sized chunks so you can understand how to use one of the coolest things on the planet. ...(read more)

Guilty that your dog is bored? Here are tips to prevent boredom.

Jeff Millman — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 05:30:00 GMT

Preventing dog boredom is one of the constant challenges that dog guardians face. There are many simple strategies that you can use to help your pooch be happier and more content. Here are a few suggestions for you to get started, and you can find the...(read more)

Do dogs know right from wrong and other dog training questions

Jeff Millman — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 05:30:00 GMT

Over the years I receive many dog training questions. Here are some of the often repeated ones and how I answer them. My dog “knows” when he has done something wrong because he slinks around with his tail down and looks “guilty”. This means he knows he...(read more)

Socialize your puppy now. The clock is ticking.

Jeff Millman — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 05:30:00 GMT

Many behavior problems including barking, fear aggression and separation anxiety can be prevented by socializing a puppy properly. I always tell my new puppy clients that I will “nag” them about socialization to ensure that they are spending enough time...(read more)

Tips for crate training your dog. Number one, get over the guilt

Jeff Millman — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 05:30:00 GMT

Do you want to prevent destruction, prevent separation anxiety, housetrain your puppy faster, train your dog faster and lessen overall frustration? Use a crate! There are so many statements, misconceptions and questions about crate training that I hear...(read more)

How do you know when to give medication to aggressive or anxious dogs?

Jeff Millman — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 05:30:00 GMT

On Saturday I saw a client for the first time. My client hired me to assess her 4-year old Yorkshire Terrier named Sam. My client has had Sam for 4.5 months and she recently started giving him Reconcile, a Prozac for dogs to address his dog-to-dog aggression...(read more)

Puppy training tips - work on one behavior at a time

Jeff Millman — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 03:54:00 GMT

If you ever feel frustrated or overwhelmed by your dog's behavior you should focus on one or two behaviors at a time. This will help focus your attention on behaviors that your dog is exhibiting at the present time. I always have a "checklist"...(read more)

Prevent Resource Guarding or Food Aggression

Jeff Millman — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 05:30:00 GMT

Ever see a dog growling around his food bowl? Ever see those "Funniest Home Videos" shows where a dog is showing teeth while standing over a bone? You have witnessed something called Resource Guarding, a form of dog aggression. This form of...(read more)

Product Review - Comfort Zone for Dogs

Jeff Millman — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:06:00 GMT

Plug a diffuser into the wall and solve dog problems? Spray something on a towel and put it near your dog and he will be calmer during thunderstorms, when left alone or in the car? Yeah right. Well, I have found it to work. I started using Comfort Zone...(read more)