It’s A Great Time To Train Your Dog

Obedience training isn’t just about getting your dog to listen to different commands. It also offers other benefits for your dog’s well-being, such as a chance to work on socialization. Learn more about why this is an ideal time to sign your dog up for training classes.

 Benefits of Socialization

All dogs need to be socialized in order to help them learn to handle new situations and unfamiliar people, dogs and other animals calmly. During training classes, dogs have many opportunities to become used to being around other dogs and people in a safe environment. These opportunities allow your dog to adapt to new surroundings while exhibiting appropriate behavior rather than acting fearful or aggressive. Building these skills means that your dog will behave properly in all kinds of settings and situations.

 Behavioral Problems

Dogs that don’t get enough opportunities to be around other dogs and learn how to behave properly can develop behavioral problems. These problems can also occur when dogs are bored and aren’t given chances to burn off energy. Dogs that don’t get out enough can end up chewing shoes, doors and other items in the home in order to relieve frustration and boredom. They might urinate or defecate indoors even though they’ve been house trained. Other behavioral problems that can develop include barking excessively and exhibiting timid or aggressive behavior around other dogs or people, such as growling, snarling or lunging. Keep in mind that fearful or aggressive dogs can be a danger to other pets and people.

 Training Classes

DoGone Fun offers training classes to help dogs learn commands while also providing opportunities for them to interact with other dogs in a safe, supervised setting. Having dogs attend these classes lowers the risk of having behavioral problems develop. This can make your pet more pleasant to be around in general, which can make the bond between you stronger. Keep in mind that you can also rent the training room at DoGone Fun for your personal use during mornings and some evenings.

 Agility Classes

Dogs that are already well-trained can benefit from taking agility classes at DoGone Fun. These classes provide a fun and challenging way for dogs to test their skills and learn new ones, which provides both mental and physical stimulation. Agility classes give dogs a great way to burn off energy while also spending time with other dogs.

This article was originally posted at https://www.dogonefunchicago.com/dog-training/its-a-great-time-to-train-your-dog/

Dog Training Collars for Walking

Getting your dog used to walking on a leash requires a lot of training. When you’re working on dog training for leashes, it’s important to choose the right kind of collar. Learn more about the different types that are available.

Flat Buckle or Snap Collar

These are common dog collars that many dogs wear. Although they’re good for carrying ID tags, they’re not a great choice for dog training. Your dog can easily get out of one if it’s on too loose, and she’ll still be able to lunge and pull when you take her out for walks.

Head Halter or Head Collar

If your dog tends to pull on the leash a lot, a head halter or collar can reduce this behavior. This type of collar goes over the head and moves your dog in the opposite direction if she pulls. The idea behind this is to teach her that pulling won’t get her where she wants to go, which should cause her to stop. Just remember that it could take a bit of time for your dog to adjust to wearing this kind of collar. If you plan on using a head halter or collar, make sure you get one that fits right. This helps ensure that it works correctly and doesn’t harm your dog.

Martingale Collar

Martingale collars are usually a good choice for dogs that have a thicker neck and smaller head, since they can get out of regular collars with ease. These collars have a bigger loop that fits around your dog’s neck and a small loop that holds the leash. If your dog pulls, the bigger loop gets tighter in order to stop your dog from getting loose.

Prong, Shock and Choke Collars

These types of collars are inhumane ones to use for dog training. They teach dogs by causing them pain or discomfort, such as choking them or pinching their skin. Avoid using these collars and choose a humane one instead, so your dog will learn to walk on a leash without learning to fear you.

What Happens When I Board My Dog?

Knowing what to expect when you bring your dog into DoGone Fun for boarding can help you feel more comfortable about it. Your dog will enjoy plenty of playtime, get a good night’s rest every night and be given attention so she won’t feel lonely. The following provides you with a look at how your dog’s day will go when you bring her in for dog boarding.

Morning Routine

Drop off times for dogs are between 7 and 9 a.m. After you drop your dog off, she’ll have a chance to meet some of the other dogs at our facility. We’ll give her breakfast at 8 a.m., then let her play outdoors with her new friends. If you signed your dog up for obedience training during dog boarding, we’ll have these sessions in the morning and in the early afternoon.

Afternoon Routine

Dogs at our facility get a break from playing around mid-day. Your dog will have lunch at 12 p.m. if you requested a meal at this time. If not, your dog will have a chance to relax and take a nap for an hour or so before heading back outside for more playtime. If your dog will be getting a bath or having any grooming done, this usually happens during the afternoon. Afterwards, your dog can play outside again. Keep in mind that our facility has an indoor play area in addition to an outdoor play area, so your dog can have plenty of playtime even when the weather’s bad. You can also check on your dog during playtime by viewing our webcam.

Evening Routine

When your dog stays with us for dog boarding, she’ll have dinner between 5 and 6 p.m. The evening hours at our facility are more relaxed, so that dogs can calm down and sleep well at night. Since they get more than eight hours of playtime, they need this time to rest. If you’re unable to pick up your dog by late afternoon or early evening, we have later pickup times available during the week from 7 to 10 p.m.

Tips for Clicker Training Dogs

Clicker training offers a highly effective way to teach dogs to obey commands. This type of training, which uses positive reinforcement, can be used to help dogs learn a wide range of commands. Keep the following tips in mind when you’re working clicker training dogs.

Use Bite-Sized Treats

Since you’ll be giving your dogs several treats during clicker training sessions, keep them small in size. Break up bits of chicken, or use smaller dog treats as rewards. To get the best results, make sure you choose treats or small pieces of food that your dog loves.

Click at the Right Time

When you’re clicker training dogs, it’s important to get the timing right. Using the clicker helps dogs learn that when they hear a verbal command, they’re expected to behave a certain way. Click while your dog is performing the correct behavior, instead of clicking after he’s done it. Reward him with a treat afterwards as positive reinforcement.

Only Click Once

Don’t use the clicker a number of times when your dog performs the desired behavior. Each time he does so during training, only click once rather than several times. If you want to show enthusiasm, such as when your dog masters a harder command, reward him with more treats instead.

Carry a Clicker Around

Clicking to reward positive behavior on the spot is an important part of clicker training dogs. Have a clicker handy in your pocket, so you can pull it out and click when your dog does something positive, such as greeting someone calmly instead of jumping.

Add a Cue

When your dog knows how to perform a behavior when he hears the clicker, you can add a cue, such as a verbal command or a hand signal. Start using these during clicker training sessions, which helps your dog learn to follow verbal commands or hand signals.

Focus on the Positive

Only click for good behavior, which will end up reducing bad behavior. Don’t use the clicker to distract your dog from doing something he shouldn’t. Instead, wait until he’s doing something good to use the clicker.

Tips for Choosing Dog Training Classes

Puppies aren’t born knowing how they should behave or how to obey commands. This comes about through dog training classes. If you’re thinking of having your dog go through this type of training, how do you choose a class? Keep the following tips in mind before you sign your dog up for any classes. This helps ensure that you and your dog will both have a rewarding experience with obedience training.

Group vs. Individual

Some dog training classes are set up for groups of dogs, while others classes offer one-on-one training with a dog trainer. Group classes are ideal for puppies who need the opportunity to socialize with other pups. These classes are also good for teaching dogs to follow commands when there are distractions around. Some dogs also enjoy being able to spend time with other dogs and make a new friend or two.

Individual training is more suitable for dogs who have behavioral problems that make it hard for them to be around other dogs. This type of training might also be better for dogs who are anxious or afraid of other dogs.

Class Level

You’ll find that there are different levels of dog training classes. The level your dog needs depends partly on his age and the amount of training he has had already. Puppies should attend puppy training classes that are filled with beginners who have not gone through any training before. Dogs who are a bit older can benefit from a basic obedience class if they have never had any training. Dogs who know basic commands can take higher level classes that teach more advanced commands and behaviors.

Class Size

The size of a dog training class might have an effect on how well it goes for you and your pup. Larger classes give your dog more chances to socialize, but they also have more distractions. Smaller classes are sometimes a more suitable option if you want to minimize distractions and get more help from the trainer during class. Larger classes make it more difficult for trainers to give advice to individuals during class.