Originally posted: August 14, 2016 We were introduced to a versatile little treat pouch in 2016 by a dog training client who was tired of carrying a plastic baggie of chicken, her clicker, her phone, a collapsible water bowl, poop bags… and then some. After some online research, she arrived to her next training session with an intriguing little treat pouch made by Vaun Duffy. More recently, Amazon has many more treat pouch options and no longer offers the Vaun Duffy treat pouch. But we still love this basic design of pouch and recommend the very similar Lanney Treat Pouch (among others) to clients and class students. Some features of this treat pouch include: 3 options to wear it – clipped on your pants, belted around your waist or over your shoulder, like a purse The pouch itself is made of a very sturdy, woven nylon Mesh pocket in the front … Read More
Treat Hack: Dogs with Allergies & Special Diets
Originally published: July 13, 2017 When you are training positively, it’s a given that you’ll be dispensing a lot of small, meaty treats to your dog for good behavior. But what if your dog is allergic to common proteins, like Chicken, Beef and Lamb? Or worse, what if you are strictly limited to feeding your dog one type of food… and that’s it? Concepts like “low-value vs. high-value” get thrown out the window rather quickly when you’re strictly limited to kibble as treats. Dogs with Protein Allergies The great news is that, in the last few years, pet food manufacturers have recognized that allergies to best-selling proteins are becoming more and more common and have started making novel proteins available. It’s not uncommon now to find proteins like rabbit, venison and even alligator available in your local pet specialty store. A word of caution: Always read the ingredient label. Just because a treat … Read More
Product Review: Ruffwear Crag EX Leash
Originally published: July 16th, 2017 Loyal to leather If it’s possible to be in love with a dog leash, than this would be nothing short of true love… For years and years, I’ve been loyal to the leather leash. Afterall, a nicely worn leather leash is about as comfortable as in your hand as big fuzzy slippers on your feet. I’m also a big fan of using a waist leash to walk your dog, specifically if you are teaching loose leash walking skills. I’ve relied primarily on the leather Convertible Service Dog Leash offered by J&J Supplies as my go-to waist belt for training and running… until now. A new generation of leashes In my constant and relentless quest for tools to make managing unruly dogs easier, I found the exquisitely feature-heavy Ruffwear Front Range Harness, which was named as one of the best no-pull harnesses by The Whole Dog Journal this year. But, even … Read More
“Guy Walks Into a Bar”… Alternatives to Doggy Confrontation
So if you’ve spent any time with your dog attached to a 20 foot cotton lead, in a nice little park in Webster Groves, running away from other dogs, you’ve probably heard my “guy walks into a bar” analogy. Yes, it starts like a bad joke that should be followed up with a priest and a rabbi, except it doesn’t really have a punchline. Seriously though, for those lucky ones who haven’t heard, you might ask what’s the significance? Often times I’ll break out my “guy in a bar” routine to help dog owners identify with how their dog might be feeling when faced with challenging situations and doggy confrontation. We’ve all had one of those days, right?… Maybe it’s a Friday morning and you’re headed into work. It should be an easy breezy commute being at the end of the work week, but instead, you hit a major wreck on 270 … Read More
Group Class Isn’t Just for Bad Dogs
So your dog can’t behave itself. It definitely happens from time to time that a dog is so unruly that you have no choice but to accept it’s time to seek the help of a professional trainer. That help may come in the form of one-on-one private lessons, or an alternative is a cost-effective group obedience class. But what if your dog isn’t such a bad dog? Does that mean that group classes are a waste of time and money for you? Absolutely not! There are lots of benefits that can come from taking your dog to a group class, even if your dog is rather well-behaved. Test Your Dog’s Skills in a New Environment First of all, there’s no such thing as an overly-obedient dog. It certainly couldn’t hurt for your dog to attend a class and improve upon existing obedience skills. Your dog may perform well inside your … Read More