Dog Training: Walking on a Leash

Dogs don’t naturally know how to behave when walking on a leash. This takes some training for them to master, especially if your dogs tend to pull while you’re out and about. Find out how you can get your dogs to learn how to walk on a leash, so that your walks will be safer and more pleasant.

Start Slowly

Don’t expect your dogs to learn how to behave properly on a leash all at once or even within a few days. It can take time for them to figure out the appropriate way to act, so make sure that you stay patient. Keep walks short at first while you work on teaching your dogs how to walk calmly on a leash without pulling. You can gradually make your walks longer and longer as they learn.

Offer Rewards

One way to get your dogs to stop pulling and stay near you is to offer them a reward for good behavior. Dogs pull on leashes when they get excited and want to go exploring. To stop this, you can offer them something even more tempting. Bring their favorite treats along for your walks, or offer small pieces of boiled chicken as an enticing reward. Doing this teaches dogs that something good happens when they act a certain way, such as staying near you on the leash rather than pulling. You can use a verbal command, such as “stop” or “stay,” if your dogs start pulling, then reward them if they follow it. Over time, you can phase out the rewards as your dogs walk with little to no pulling.

Stop and Stay

Another way to get dogs to stop pulling on leashes is to make it unrewarding for them. As soon as they pull, stop in your tracks and stand still. Call your dogs to you, and begin walking again when they come over to you. When you do this, your dogs learn that they’re not going to get what they want by pulling. Instead, they’ll learn to stay near you, so that their walks won’t keep being interrupted.

DGF offers lots of dog training classes to meet your needs at every level of a dog’s ability. Sign Up for a training class today.

This article was originally published at https://www.dogonefunchicago.com/dog-training/dog-training-walking-on-a-leash/

Tips for Choosing a Dog Boarding and DayCare Facility

Have you noticed how many dogs there are in Chicago? It seems more and more people are adopting or purchasing a dog from a reputable breeder these days. It is a huge investment of money and time and I’m sure you want the best for your new little furry family member. So the buzz around the city is “What is the best in Dog Boarding and Doggie Daycare”?

For some of us, choosing a proper Dog Boarding and Doggie Daycare facility can be just as stressful as choosing the right daycare for a child. Because let’s face it, our dogs ARE our children in many ways! They are a member of our family and we want to entrust them with someone knowledgeable and above all, kind.

Choosing a Doggie Daycare

• See how the dogs interact with the staff of the facility.  While you are at work, the last thing you should worry about is if your dog is lonely, ignored or worst of all, mistreated.
• Is the dog daycare or boarding facility prepared for any illness your dog might suddenly have while you’re away? As if knowing your pooch is sick is not bad enough, wondering whether the staff really know how to care for a sick pet can be REALLY frightening
• Is the facility clean and free from funky smells? Aside from the fact that a dog’s sense of smell is up to 100,000 times that of a human, an unclean facility is a breeding ground for disease?
•  Is there a schedule or routine that the staff follows so that all the dogs and puppies get fed and watered, walked or groomed (if that’s an option)?
• Is the facility equipped to administer regular medication if your child….I meant pup… requires it?
• What is the temperament of the dogs your baby will be interacting with? Do they have a plan of action if something  goes awry?  Consider replacing first sentence with:  Does the facility temperament assess every dog before accepting them to ensure that your dog will be as “safe” as possible?

We think we have everything you want in a dog daycare and boarding facility. The staff at DoGone Fun has a ball with all our dogs! We have a 20,000 square foot facility that provides indoor and outdoor fun for every shape and size dog.  We have toys and activities for dogs of all ages.  When you visit the facility, it is easy to see how much we enjoy what we do.

DoGone Fun provides a great atmosphere for all our dogs during the day, and at night we take extra care so the dogs feel safe and secure whether they’re staying for the day or the night.

Come see why DoGone Fun Dog Boarding and Daycare is heads and tails above the rest in Chicago.  Take a tour of our entire facility.  Talk to the staff and ask questions.  Your stress will melt away when you see all the smiling and happy faces on each and every dog!

This content was previously published on https://www.dogonefunchicago.com/dog-daycare/tips-for-choosing-a-dog-boarding-and-daycare-facility/

Owning a Dog The Teenage Years

Puppies are known for being a handful at times, but it’s not over when your puppy reaches the adolescent stage. Although your puppy gets older, this doesn’t automatically lead to more maturity at first. In fact, owning a dog through the teenage years can be a challenge for dog owners. Learn more about what to expect during your dog’s adolescent phase and how to handle this time.

When Are the Teenage Years?

Dogs go through their adolescent phase starting when they are around 6 months old. This phase can last until they are 2 or 3 years old. However, the biggest behavioral challenges typically occur when they are between 9 and 12 months old.

Problems During the Adolescent Phase

The adolescent phase affects dogs in different ways from hormonal to brain changes. Some dogs might become more fearful about things that never bothered them before, while others become more eager to go out for walks and explore their surroundings. During adolescence, some dogs seem to suddenly forget their training and go back to previous behaviors. Other dogs experience sleep changes that cause them to be more awake during the night for a bit.

How to Handle the Teen Years

This depends on how adolescence affects your dogs, but keep the following tips in mind:

Continue to socialize: Even if your dog suddenly seems fearful, it’s still important to keep socializing. Expose your dog to different places, other people and other animals. This can help your dog adjust to new experiences during adolescence.

Spend quality time together: The teen years are an important part of bonding with your dog. Make sure that you play together and bond with your dog during this time in order to form a positive relationship.

Keep up with training: Your dog might have a harder time with training during the teen years, but you should still continue with it. Your dog’s brain will settle down eventually, and you’ll find that training becomes easier once again.

No matter how difficult adolescence is, keep in mind that it’s only temporary. Stay patient, and your pup will grow into a mature, well-behaved dog.

DoGoneFun! Offers many resources for new dog owners and their puppies. We have specifically designed grooming programs for puppies first haircut. Our dog training programs offer everything from puppy basics to agility classes. We can even help your puppy get more socialization with doggy daycare.

This article was previously published at https://www.dogonefunchicago.com/owning-a-dog/owning-a-dog-the-teenage-years/