Dog Muzzles: Are Those Okay?

Muzzles help prevent dogs from being able to bite or snap at other dogs or people, but are they okay to use? While you can use muzzles in certain situations, there are other times that you should never use one. Find out more about the right and wrong times to put a muzzle on your dog.

When You Shouldn’t Use a Muzzle

You should never put a muzzle on your dog as a way to stop him from possibly biting visitors at your home or at a local dog park. If your dog is already feeling anxious or overwhelmed in these types of situations, putting a muzzle on can make things worse. You should also avoid having your dog wear a muzzle as a way to teach him that you’re in charge. For example, don’t put a muzzle on your dog and remove his food bowl if he’s a resource guarder. There are more positive ways to deal with these behavioral issues.

When You Should Use a Muzzle

If you have reason to worry that your dog might bite another dog or person while you’re out for walks or in a public area, it’s okay to put a muzzle on him. This helps prevent him from snapping or biting at a dog that runs up to him, or a child or adult who tries to pet him without your permission. Keep in mind that a muzzle is also okay for dogs to wear during certain dog training activities, veterinary procedures or grooming tasks.

How to Use a Muzzle

Having your dog wear a muzzle goes a lot smoother when you get him used to it. You can do this by letting your dog explore the muzzle first through sniffing. When he seems more comfortable, you can put the muzzle on and give him some treats while he’s wearing it. This helps your dog form a positive association with the muzzle. Have your dog wear the muzzle at home for gradually longer periods of time until he seems calm with it on. Getting him used to wearing it can make it easier for you to put it on him when you need to.

If you’re looking for help training your dog, DoGone Fun has professional trainers available to help. We offer individual lessons, group classes, and other training services. Please contact us for more details on our dog training services in the Chicago area.

This article was previously published at: https://www.dogonefunchicago.com/training-a-dog/dog-muzzels-are-those-okay/

How Can I Keep My Dog Sociable In The Winter

Dogs need regular social interaction in order to prevent boredom and keep them feeling happy. When it’s cold outside, making sure that your dog stays social can be difficult. If you would rather avoid local dog parks when it’s freezing out, there are other ways for your dog to socialize with other dogs.


Importance of Socialization for Dogs
Dogs are social animals who thrive on being around others. Without regular social interaction, dogs might have trouble interacting with other dogs in a healthy manner. They might be scared or even become aggressive if they haven’t learned how to act properly with other dogs. Socialization allows them to learn the right ways to behave when they are around others.


Social interaction on a regular basis also provides dogs with another important benefit. Spending time with other dogs gives them a chance to keep their brain and body busy, which helps lower the risk of behavioral issues that stem from boredom. With regular socialization, you’ll have a happy and well-behaved dog.


Ideas for Socialization When It’s Cold Out
Freezing weather, snowstorms and other winter woes can make it challenging to make sure that your dog has time to be with other dogs. When you can’t meet up with other dog owners outside for some playtime, there are other options available, such as doggy daycare.


At DoGone Fun, we provide a warm, safe and stimulating environment where your dog can interact with other dogs all winter long. You can drop your dog off in the morning before work and come back in the evening, or choose a shorter doggy daycare schedule if that works better for you. Either way, your dog will have plenty of time for playing and socializing with other dogs while staying warm and comfortable.


Keep in mind that there are options available if you want to arrange any playtime with fellow dog owners during the winter. DoGone Fun has a spacious indoor playroom for you pooch available to rent on Sunday afternoons from 12:30 to 2:30 pm. This is a great way for your dog to see their usual friends this winter.

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.

4 Commands to Teach Your Dog for Obedience Training

When you start working on obedience training for your dog, there are several different commands you can teach. Some of these are more advanced that you’ll need to wait on, but there are some basic ones that every dog should know. These are some of the most important basic commands you should work on when teaching your dog.

Sit

Teaching dogs to sit is among the most basic commands to include in obedience training. All you have to do in order to teach your dog this command is hold a treat near her nose, then slowly raise your hand. Your dog will naturally follow your hand, which will cause her head to go up and her rear to move toward the floor. When she sits, say the verbal command “sit” and reward her with a treat.

Down

This command is a basic one for dogs to learn, but it might take a little bit more work. For this one, hold a treat in your hand and put it close to your dog’s nose. Move your hand down toward the floor. When your dog follows your hand and lies down, say the “down” command and give her a treat.

Come

The “come” command helps you keep your dog safe in potentially dangerous situations. To teach your dog this command during obedience training, put her leash on and lean down toward her. Say the “come” command and tug on the leash gently. When your dog comes over to you, reward her with a treat. When your dog learns to do this on the leash, you can remove it and try the command without it.

Stay

When your dog learns to sit on command, she’ll be ready to learn the “stay” command. Have your dog sit, then hold your hand up with the palm facing out and say “stay.” Move back a few steps, and give your dog a treat if she doesn’t move. As you train her, keep moving back a few steps more. Keep in mind that your dog might take longer to learn this command.

Dog Obedience Training at DoGone Fun

Obedience classes provide dogs with important training that makes life easier for both pets and owners. These classes also offer a chance for dogs to get used to being around other dogs while also learning to follow commands without getting distracted. At DoGone Fun, we offer dog obedience training to help puppies and dogs learn to successfully obey commands.

Puppy Pre-School/AKC S.T.A.R Puppy Program

This 7 week program focuses on covering all aspects of training young pups and giving them opportunities to socialize with others, which is an important part of their learning process. During this program, you can expect us to cover house training and crate training, as well as potential behavioral issues, such as biting and jumping on people. Puppies also learn how to walk on a leash, sit on command, behave around other puppies, how to get used to city noises and how to calm down. Your puppy will also learn how to perform the behaviors required for passing the AKC’s S.T.A.R Puppy program.

Back to Basics

This 7 week program is designed for dogs who are at least 5 months old. During this program, dogs learn basic behaviors that they need in order to behave properly around others. This includes learning to focus when distractions are around and coming to you when called. We also cover other important dog obedience training topics, such as putting a stop to leash pulling, jumping on people, and helping your dog calm down when she’s excited.

Beyond Basics

This 7 week program takes training to the next level for dogs who have successfully completed our Back to Basics program. This program focuses on teaching your dog to ignore distractions and return to you when called. This is a more challenging program that adds more distractions while increasing distance and duration.

Come and Take a Walk

This 7 week program is designed to teach your dog how to walk on a leash on busy city sidewalks. Your dog will learn to come back to you on command and walk properly on a loose leash.

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.

Getting the Most Out of Dog Obedience Classes

Going through obedience training is an important part of a dog’s life. This type of training helps keep them safe, and teaches them how to behave around you, other people and other pets. Attending dog obedience classes is a great way for you to learn how to give commands, and it gives your dog plenty of opportunities to figure out how to obey those commands. In order to make the most of this experience, keep the following tips in mind.

Practice Outside of Class

Obedience training isn’t just something that happens during class. Your dog needs to practice learning these commands on a regular basis, which means at home and out in public. Being consistent with commands and working on training a few times or more per day helps your dog learn them in a shorter amount of time. If you wait until class time to work on commands, your dog might forget what she is supposed to be doing, which can make training take longer.

Be Patient

One of the most important things to keep in mind when your dog goes through obedience training is that dogs learn at different speeds. Your pet isn’t expected to learn commands during dog obedience classes within a specific time frame. Some dogs take longer to figure out what they should be doing when they hear a command, while others pick up on these cues much more quickly. If your dog is among the slower learners or if your dog gets distracted, remember to be patient. Getting upset and frustrated can end up making it harder for your dog to learn to obey commands. Instead, stay calm and understand that it might take several tries before your dog successfully obeys a command.

Pay Close Attention to Body Language

You might be learning verbal commands during dog obedience classes, but keep in mind that dogs tend to focus more on body language. Keep hand signals and other movements consistent when issuing verbal commands, so your dog will have an easier time figuring out what she should be doing.

The Benefits of Dog Training You Might Never Have Thought Were Possible

Making sure that dogs are properly trained isn’t just about teaching them to obey commands. Dog training also provides a number of important benefits that go beyond basic obedience, especially when dogs and owners receive guidance from a professional dog trainer. These are some of the advantages you can expect when your dogs have proper training.

Improved Safety for Your Dog

Dogs that know how to listen to commands such as “stay” or return to you on command have a lower risk of running off and being hurt. Whether you’re walking your dog down the streets of your Chicago neighborhood or visiting a local dog park, you don’t have to worry about your dog suddenly taking off and possibly getting into trouble or getting hurt. If your dog does start to run off or approach something dangerous, you can give the appropriate command to have her return to your side or stop where she is until you reach her.

Stronger Bond

Taking the time to train dogs help strengthen the bond you have with them, as long as you maintain a positive atmosphere. You’ll find that you will also end up learning more about a dog’s personality when you work on teaching them to follow commands. This can help you understand your dog more, which makes it easier to adapt training as needed. For example, you’ll know that you need to be more patient and allow for more training time if you have a dog who doesn’t learn as quickly as others or a dog who is easily distracted.

More Social Opportunities

When you have dogs that are well-trained, you’ll be more willing to bring them to your local dog park or take them out in public. You won’t have to worry about them embarrassing you or upsetting others with poor behavior. This means that you and your dogs will be able to enjoy more social interactions with others.

These are just a few of the extra benefits that come with dog training. Keep in mind that undergoing training provides several other advantages for both you and your dog.

Basic Dog Training Tips

One of the most important responsibilities of having dogs is making sure they’re trained. When your dogs have gone through obedience training, they’re more fun and less stressful to be around. You don’t have to worry about them running off on you or jumping up on other people. When you’re ready to begin dog training, the following tips can help you out.

Build a Positive Association

How can you train dogs to obey commands like “sit” or “stay?” One of the most effective ways to do so is by setting up a positive association between verbal commands or hand signals and the correct behavior on your dog’s part. When dogs follow the commands you give, offering them a reward right away builds up positive reinforcement. This makes them more likely to repeat the correct behavior the next time you give the same command. Rewards can be in the form of treats or praise.

Stick to a Routine

When you work on dog training, make sure that you’re being consistent when teaching your dogs a certain command. Don’t use different words or hand signals for the same command, or your dogs will end up being confused and not knowing what to do. Try to use the same tone of voice as well if you’re using verbal commands. Being consistent makes it easier for dogs to learn to follow commands.

Ignore Negative Attention Seeking Behavior

If dogs do things they’re not supposed to in order to get your attention, such as jumping on you or barking excessively at you, be careful with the way you respond. Giving dogs any kind of attention, even if it’s negative attention such as a stern reprimand, reinforces the unwanted behavior. Instead of giving them attention, turn away from them and wait for them to settle down.

Practice Patience

Dog training isn’t something that takes place quickly. Think of it as an ongoing process instead, and learn to be patient with your dogs. Staying patient helps them stay calm and prevents training sessions from becoming stressful, which can help dogs learn to follow commands faster.

Dog Training is as important for you as it is for your dog.

There’s no doubt that dog training is an important part of a dog’s life. Learning to follow commands makes dogs less likely to cause trouble with their owners or with other people and pets. However, training is beneficial for dog owners as well. These are some of the reasons why obedience training is just as important for you as it is for your dog.

Reduces Stress

Pets bring a lot of joy to our lives, but untrained ones can be stressful to deal with on a regular basis. When you have a trained dog in your home, you don’t have to be concerned about facing behavioral problems, such as inappropriate elimination, excessive barking, jumping or other issues. Dogs who have been through training are generally calmer and easier to deal with than dogs who have not been trained. This can help you enjoy your pet’s company even more without having to find ways to ease pet related stress.

Encourages Social Interaction

When you have a poorly trained dog or a dog who has not had any training, you might find that you’re reluctant to go out in public much with your pet. This might mean limiting walks to short ones in areas where you’re less likely to run into other people or pets. When you have a dog who has been trained, you can count on having more pleasant social interactions with others. This can encourage you to bring your dog out in public more, whether that means going for longer walks in busier areas or heading to dog parks.

Keeps Your Dog Safe

One of the biggest reasons for dog training being important for dog owners is that it helps keep their pets safe. When your dog knows how to obey commands, you don’t have as much to worry about when it comes to potential dangers. For example, if your dog dashes into the street, you can call him back with a command, so he won’t get hurt. Knowing that your dog is safer provides you with more peace of mind as a dog owner.