“I just want my dog to learn obedience”
That’s awesome! But is that really what you are trying to say?
Don’t get me wrong- Obedience training is GREAT! It can be so useful, and it’s a lot of fun to teach your dog new skills.
But usually people are really looking for a way to overcome their dogs unwanted behaviors like jumping, pulling, incessant barking, etc.
Obedience training alone isn’t going to get you there.
We always start by teaching our clients how to overcome their unwanted behaviors, once that foundation is laid we can start learning the “fun stuff” (aka, obedience skills).
In the end our clients and their dogs can live a much more sustainable and peaceful life together.
We hear this from frustrated dog owners all the time, and it IS frustrating!
You KNOW your dog knows commands like “sit, down, come” because they perform them flawlessly inside your home, but as soon as there are distractions it’s as if you’ve never taught them a thing.
Dogs need training in the environment in which you expect them to perform their skills. It can take a lot of time, repetition and patience.
Our Urban Dog Training Program is designed to be sure your dog will listen to you and be on their best behavior no matter how distracting their environment is.
This can be one of the most difficult things for a Dog Owner to admit.
Truth be told, I’ve been there myself…
It is incredibly difficult to find yourself living with a dog who makes your life more stressful rather than less stressful.
Maybe you finally decided to bring a dog home and their temperament isn’t what you were expecting.. maybe they’re reactive, or anxious, or they have more energy than you expected.
Maybe you ended up with a dog you never wanted because of life circumstances..
Maybe you thought you were ready for a dog but quickly began to feel like you were in over your head..
And now you feel stuck.
When I ended up with my Golden retriever Odie he was out of control, he was hyper and required non stop attention. I didn’t choose him, but he suddenly became my responsibility.
He desperately needed training.
Through that training he quickly learned what behaviors were and were not acceptable, we spent time together working on new skills, our bond quickly grew.
And you know what…… I started to actually LOVE him.
Now, he is one of the best things in my life. He’s my best buddy and I look forward to spending time with him and coming home to him every day.
The frustration I felt when he first came into my life is such a distant memory that it feels like I’m telling a story about someone else’s life.
Training him made our bond grow incredibly strong.
If you have ever felt this way, know that you’re not alone, know that it is ok to feel this way, and know that it can get better and it WILL get better if you pursue training with your dog.
You’ve got this
Potty training an adult dog who has been previously pee pad trained can be a lengthy and painful process- but it IS possible!
When our clients tell us that their adult dog has been peeing on bath mats, rugs, clothes left on the floor, etc. It is usually a clear sign that they have had some previous pee pad training.
Do yourself a favor- if you just got a puppy skip the pee pads all together!
Our one exception:
You just got a puppy and you live in a high rise tower.
Puppies need to relieve themselves more frequently than adult dogs. If you live on the 25th floor of a building it will be nearly impossible to get your puppy out of your apartment, through a hallway, down the elevator, through the lobby and outside to do their business.
In those cases we always recommend disassociating the potty pad from any similar items as much as possible.
– If you have a balcony, leave your pad there! This helps them understand that they need to go potty outside, not inside the home.
-If you don’t have a balcony try placing and picking up your pad outside the front door. (Pick it up each time so your neighbors don’t have to pay the price!)
-Use something that does not resemble a rug or carpet. Try a turf mat, or even a replaceable sod pad rather than a traditional puppy pad!
Potty training can be a frustrating process, and we know Pee pads seem like a good option! Some people have great success with them – but more often than not they usually lead to more frustration and mess down the line.
Your dog relies on you for everything, including advocating for them.
What do we mean when we say “you are your dog’s only advocate”?
Your dog isn’t able to say “I don’t like that”. They show their discomfort with their body language, or by growling, or even by biting…
You know your dog better than anyone else. You know what situations make them uncomfortable. Maybe they don’t like being pet by children, maybe they don’t like being approached by strangers, maybe noisy restaurants are too overwhelming for them.
It is up to you to help them manage those environments.
Setting boundaries with the humans in your dog’s life is a great place to start! Practice saying “no”. Control their environment to the best of your ability. Don’t let other people’s wants put your dog in a compromising situation.
You’ve got this