Blog | St Louis MO Dog Training | The Persuaded Pooch

Product Review: Ruffwear Slackline Leash

Sarah — Sun, 16 Jul 2017 03:45:49 +0000

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 more exciting than that, I ... Read More

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Treat Hack: Dogs with Allergies & Special Diets

Sarah — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 17:58:59 +0000

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 lists the primary protein on ... Read More

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“Guy Walks Into a Bar”… Alternatives to Doggy Confrontation

Sarah — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 11:24:08 +0000

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

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Group Class Isn’t Just for Bad Dogs

Sarah — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 22:23:43 +0000

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

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DIY High-Value Treats on a Budget

Sarah — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 21:13:24 +0000

Recently I decided to quit my perfectly good, regularly paying, benefit-yielding job in the pet food industry to grow The Persuaded Pooch full time. This has a been a long time coming for me, to which my friends and family say “Thank goodness we don’t have to hear about that any more!” But with that perfectly good job, I also had to say “buh-bye” to a SWEET discount on high-value, high-quality commercial treats. And, although, I would never, ever, ever discourage anyone from supporting fine pet food manufacturers or pet specialty retailers in the industry, I’m quickly finding that there are some budget-conscious options for high-value and convenient treating, as well. Here are a few of my favorites for you DIY-ers: Peanut Butter Kong We often think about the standard peanut butter Kong for keeping our dogs occupied like when they first go to their crates or when visitors come over. ... Read More

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Managing Holiday Dog Stress

Sarah — Wed, 09 Nov 2016 13:50:42 +0000

Photo courtesy of Oszkár Dániel Gáti Photography via boredpanda.com Well, well, well… You made it to the holiday season! Gone is the pressure of having to maintain that bathing suit body and perfect pedicure. Along with the holidays, of course, comes holiday parties and oh-so-much tasty food. Bring on the love handles and oversized sweaters, yeah! And just as you need to prep yourself and your home for your holiday parties, now is also a good time to check in with your pup to think about how they are going to handle the holiday season. Here are some things to consider… Is your dog nervous or tense around company? If you have a fearful or anxious dog, this is something that you are probably used to asking yourself. But if your dog is usually happy-go-lucky and what we trainers refer to as “bomb-proof,” signals of stress may be more subtle. ... Read More

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Keeping Kids Safe Around Dogs

Sarah — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 11:52:00 +0000

Photo courtesy of nbcnews.com Dogs can add so much to your home and family life. But keeping your family and kids safe is the number one priority. Dog management, training and preventing dog bites can help to ensure that your children will be able to experience the pure joy that can come from having a dog in your family for many, many years. Supervision and Managing the Space An important part of keeping your kids safe around dogs is to set rules and physical boundaries. For example, dogs and small children should never be left together unsupervised. If you are unable to supervise, consider using easy tools like baby gates, crates or a leash tether to prevent the dog and the children from interacting. If you have a very active dog, be sure to give him something to entertain himself while restricted, like a stuffed Kong toy or long-lasting chew ... Read More

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Product Review: Zoe’s Pill Pops

Sarah — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 00:13:35 +0000

Sticking with the senior dog theme in our last post, you may find that the older your pup gets, the more pills you have to feed on a daily basis. Anti-inflammatories, glucosamine chondroitin or fish oil can be large pills and difficult to disguise. Have you found it challenging to trick your dog into taking their pills? Has wrapping pills in bread, peanut butter, or even cheese lost its appeal for your pup? If so, you may be interested in trying Zoe’s Pill Pops. Zoe’s Pill Pops are a unique take on feeding pills to your dog made easier. The”test dog,” Ozzy, swallows them whole and has been successfully tricked for 2 weeks straight. Previously Ozzy had turned his nose up at cheese… CHEESE! Here are some of our favorite features as compared to some of the other “pill pop” products on the market: Comes in 3 different varieties – Roasted Chicken ... Read More

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Easy Enrichment for Your Senior Dog

Sarah — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 23:47:05 +0000

Doesn’t it always seem that those energetic youngsters get all the attention and focus? What about the senior dogs that generally mind their own business, stay out of the way and couldn’t be bothered to get up and bark out the window? And because they aren’t causing a nuisance for you is the perfect reason to do something special with them. Older pups typically don’t need as much exercise as their younger counterparts, however, enrichment activities can help them stay occupied and keep their minds working. They’ll appreciate the extra attention, and you’ll appreciate not having to work up a sweat on the trail for once. Here are some fun, simple, low-key enrichment activities that you can do with your favorite senior guy or gal: Let’s go for a sniff!… Walk schmalk! Instead, let your dog sniff around the neighborhood lets him catch up on the all the newest happenings: who peed ... Read More

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Product Review: Vaun Duffy Treat Pouch

Sarah — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 03:39:42 +0000

We were introduced to this versatile little treat pouch by a dog training client who was tired of carrying a plastic baggie of chicken, then clicker, her phone, a collapsible water bowl, poop bags… and then some. After some online research, she arrived to her next training session with this intriguing little Vaun Duffy treat pouch. (The name sounded a bit upscale for a treat pouch… So after some research of our own, turns out there is a Vaughn Duffy wine company, too, but spelled with an “h.” Yet another point of intrigue.) 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 for holding a tennis ball, a clicker, car keys, or also could be ... Read More

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