K9 Dog Academy Training Site

2009-07-19T11:51:00.000-03:00

Home Consultation

The usual service that I offer to clients is an in home consultation. This involves me visiting you at your home with as many of the people who interact with the dog on a regular basis, that can attend. This can take place during the week or on the weekend whatever suits you.

Being in your home allows me to see the dog in its natural surroundings, and formulate a plan of action that is specific to your property. Usually this will take around 2-3 hours. For futher details and costs click here

Make sure you get your dog training right the first time!

By getting your dog training right first time with me you can save hundreds of dollars.

Many dog trainers provide solutions that are only temporary fixes, or disguise the real problem. They treat only the symptom and not the cause and so problems return soon after. Often so called expert dog trainers do not understand the true cause of the problem and so have little chance of solving it.

Over time their solutions just don't stick. After you have wasted your time and money you are left with an even more confused dog.

With my in home consultation you will get the very best solution which works - because it also treats the cause of the problem. That is why I can back it up with a lifetime support guarantee.

Looking for a permanent solution for your dog and not just a quick fix?

The method that I use not only eliminates unwanted behaviour but offers you a way to avoid all future problems.

I can help you with all the following problems and many more regardless of the age or breed of your dog

Aggressive behaviour, Cat chasing, Dog Barking, Boredom, Pack leadership issues, Chewing , In car barking, Predatory instincts, Toileting, Biting, Stress, Self mutilation, Pulling, Separation anxiety, Obsessive behaviour, Unruliness, Digging, Destructive Behaviour, Noise aversion, Selective hearing, Domination, Phobias, Jumping-up

A dog training method that really works

The way I work is very different from a traditional dog trainer.

A traditional dog trainer arrives at your home, works with your dogs, partly dealing with one or two of the symptoms and then disappears!

As soon as a different problem occurs you find yourself back in the same helpless position that you were originally in.

You find yourself with a new problem that you don’t understand and can’t solve. Your options are to pay for more training or try somebody else!

A time proven approach to dog training - a brand new start

This is where my method is different.

By taking the time to explain what is going on in the dogs mind you are left with a complete and new understanding of dogs.

I keep no secrets back.

You will understand what your dog was trying to do and why. After the consultation you will look at your dog in a new way.

With a new understanding you can continue to develop the bond with your dog.

With lifetime support for your dog you are never alone

I always make a follow up call a week or so after to make sure that you are completely satisfied with everything.

If in the future any problem starts to occur, you’ll be surprised how capable of dealing with it you are. If you’re unsure then just call me for free!

2009-07-19T11:15:00.000-03:00

Dog & puppy training

In home consultation details and costs

The cost of an in home consultation including ongoing support is a one time fee of 350.00 (same price for 2 dogs). This is the only money you will ever pay me, regardless of how much support you require in the future. This cost will also cover off all the problems that you have not just the main one since they are all connected.

My guarantee as a dog trainer.

I personally guarantee that if you follow the simple dog training steps that I show you during the consultation you will end up with a completely different dog.

My promise to you

If after the first hour you are not 100% happy you are free to call everything to a halt and I will not charge you a single cent!

I can offer this because after an hour you will realise that what I am saying really does make sense and want to continue.

Usually a consultation will last around 2-3 hours however it can go on for longer. I am quite happy talking about dogs and so will stay as long as it takes until I have answered all your questions.

On-going support

After the consultation we will work together by email and telephone to achieve your goals together. Sometimes this will not be required as the behaviour will stop very quickly, and other times this will be for a few months. Every dog and every situation is different.

The big advantage of visiting you in your home is it that I can see your dog in its natural environment and state and it is then easy to tailor things to your set up.

Action plan

I will write up and leave you with a personalised step by step action plan. This action plan will show you the keys to winning this game with your dog and some straight forward steps to take. These steps will cover off every situation that you may find yourself in showing you exactly what to do to change your dogs behaviour. The completed action plan is then laminated and left with you so that it can be kept in good condition and referred to it as and when required.

Treating the cause and not the symptom

The important thing that you will very quickly realise is that we will be treating the cause of the problems and not just the symptoms

This means that the method will work and not just end redirecting the problem into another area! Thus you will end up with a happier dog!

Afterwards you will have all the tools and knowledge at your finger tips so that when I leave things get better and better.

Feel free to call me and find out more before deciding if you are interested.

There is no such thing as a magic pill. However if you are willing to put in the work and follow the simple steps that I show you then you'll end up with a completely different dog.

I am always happy to help,

To discuss your dog training or puppy training requirements please call me at this number

506-375-9017

Dogs That Chew Things That Don't Belong To Them

2009-07-18T08:34:00.000-03:00

You may remember when you went to school, and the teacher asked little Johnny why he didn't pass in his homework,and was made to stand in the corner, or stay after school because the teacher didn't believe Timmy when he said the dog ate his homework.

Well any dog owner will tell you about the truth that Johnny spoke of.. I have personally lost, shoes, clothes, furniture, tv remotes, you name it and my dogs have chewed it..but that was way back before I finally figured out how to stop my furry chewing machines from destroying my house.

Is your dog a chewer? Has he destroyed things in your home or personal items, like clothes, shoes and electronics?

Believe me I know what you are going through.

The good news is I can help..

Lets take a moment and look at this behaviour closely..

Cold hard fact....dogs LUV to chew, it is a natural instinct... So, if you don't give them something to chew, They will be forced to find something on their own,, ... and guess what, they will find plenty of things that satisfy their urge to chew and it will probably belong to you.

Chewing can be a very difficult behavior to deal with, but here are some tips that may help:

1. Give your dog a good quality chew toy. Make sure he has plenty of toys and that he knows what is acceptable to chew on and what is not.

2. Change up your dog's toys often, so he doesn't get bored.

3. If your dog destroys toys, choose tougher toys that are almost indestructible.

4. Make sure there are no loose parts that can be easily torn off and swallowed.

5. Avoid toys that your dog could swallow or too big for him to play with easily.

6. When you first give your dog a new toy, watch his play to make sure that he plays with it appropriately.

7. Choose washable toys. Dogs are basically dirty, from the crap they walk, in to the drool left behind on the toy. This is a prime breeding ground for a host of bacteria and germs.

If you use these tips and provide consistant leadership for your dog, he will learn what is appropriate for chewing and what is not...

If you want to learn more about being a pack leader..visit my website, and take a look around, there is a form you can fill out describing your problems, fill it out, and hit send, and I will get back to you shortly.

Harley Harrington
Senior Trainer
K9 Dog Academy

Dogs That Chase Cats Need More Exercise

2009-07-17T16:11:00.001-03:00

This was my answer to an E-Mail I received for a distraught dog owner.

Is the cat your own or a stray that comes into the yard? If it's a stray, the dog may just be trying to either protect its territory, or maybe (like mine) they simply want to play with the cat. Although the cat for sure doesn't see it that way!

The only things I can think of are...tons and tons of exercise to start. A well exercised dog is a happy and calm dog. They also need lots of interactive play with you daily. Dogs easily get bored; especially if you have any working breed strains in the mix. Good basic training is also essential for mental stimulation and pet safety. Stay or similar commands are essential on and off lead for your pet's safety and everyone else's.

You also need to train your dog to return to you 100% of the time by using their name, a command or whistle...whatever works for you. if you already use your dog's name too much, that won't work because they already know to ignore that word.

Remember to train by positive reinforcement and praise always. Yelling at your dog is negative attention but from the dog's point of view it's better than no attention at all so they will only increase the frequency of the bad behavior if that's how you try to train them.

Practice as you do your 2 minimum half-hour+ walking/jogging sessions a day. Build up both your skills by increasing the number of dogs and cats you're likely to encounter on your walks and seeing how you progress and gain confidence. When the dog encounters another pet; try distracting him by giving him treats and lavish praise and placing your body physically between the dog and the "target" so they have to focus on you. The key is to be calm but alert so you catch the dog BEFORE they have a chance to really focus on the cat or other animal. It takes time but they begin to associate cats with praise and treats.

Like any other training this takes persistence and daily work/training and LOADS of exercise but it will work if you're willing to keep at it and adjust your training as need be.

Remember if any of this gets to much to handle, or just plain isn't working... Dustin and I are ready to step in and train your dogs to not chase cats.

Training Methods and Ideas

2009-07-17T15:32:00.000-03:00

Training Methods and Ideas

I will start by saying there are ways to talk to your dog, that increases your leadership levels,and ways that have a negative effect on training. The correct use of her name will reinforce staying on the task..Ie say "sit Lola" ,and if she doesn't, repeat the same command,,this time raise your energy level..and if she breaks focus and doesn't sit, then you gently show her what you want her to do..you approach her with calm energy,( it is extremely important that she does not feel as if you are about to punish her), lift up on the chin while gently pushing down on her rear end. When she is in the sit position and looking at you ,say.. "good girl", with enthusiasm.

Method 1

Positive Reinforcement and Motivation Training/Whispering

What I believe makes a successful "positive dog trainer/whisperer."
A keen understanding of exactly what positive dog training/whispering really is.
"Positive" is a word with many meanings, but when I say I use "positive dog training techniques" it simply means I prefer to use positive reinforcement and motivation/(Whispering), rather than negative reinforcement and punishment to train my dogs. I believe that it is kinder, more fun, less abusive, and even more effective than alternatives. We all have our reasons for choosing whatever style of dog training we endorse.

While my training methods are 'softer', make no mistake. There are no fewer boundaries or rules. In fact, you can set as many boundaries or rules as you like, just as with any other style of training. "Positive" does not equal "permissive" and "Whispering", does not mean "too shy to speak up". Dogs still require leadership, they need to know what they can and can't do, but with positive training I don't focus on what my dogs can't do , I focus on what I want my dogs to do. This is what all good leaders do. The real reward is that as a positive trainer/Whisperer I set my dogs up to get what the dog wants in return for doing what I want. Everybody wins and has lots of fun too. I spoil my dogs rotten and still have obedient, polite dogs, who knows and gives me what I expect. That is a great working relationship.

Positive Reinforcement: Training Your Dog with Treats and Praise Which do you like best?,praise or punishment. Everyone will undoubtedly pick praise,the same is true for your dog, and that's the theory behind positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement means giving your pet something pleasant immediately after she does something you want her to do. Because your praise or reward makes her more likely to repeat that behavior in the future, it is one of your most powerful concepts for shaping or changing your dog's behavior.

Timing is essential when using positive reinforcement.

The reward must occur immediately—within seconds—or your pet may not associate it with the proper action. For example, if you have your dog "sit" but reward her after she's already stood back up, she'll think she's being rewarded for standing up.

Consistency is also essential.

Everyone who interacts with the dog on a daily basis,ie Grandma, dog walkers,doggie day care workers, should use the same commands. It might help to post these where everyone can become familiar with them.

The commands I train my dogs with are:

•"watch me"
•"sit" •"stay"
•"down" (which means "lie down")
•"off" (which means "get off of me" or "get off the furniture")
•"get up"
•"come"( I also incorperate hand signals,)
•"let's go"
•"leave it"
•"settle"."hurry hard"(which means come quickly, dig in) it has nothing to do with curling ,,I just like the way it sounds.

Consistency means to always acknowledge the behavior you want and ignor, disagree with, unwanted behavior.

Using Positive Reinforcement

For your pet, positive reinforcement may include food treats, praise, petting, or a favorite toy or game. I find food treats work especially well for training my dogs. A treat should be irresistible to your pet. It should be a very small, soft piece of food, so that she will immediately eat it and look to you for more. If you give something has to be chewed, or that breaks into bits on the floor, he'll be looking around the floor, not at you.

Small pieces of hot dogs, cheese, or cooked chicken or beef is what I use and have had proven successful. Experiment a bit to see what works best for your pet. You can carry the treats in a pocket or fanny pack. Each time you use a food reward, you should give it power with praise. Say, "Good dog," in a enthusiastic, happy tone.

When your pet is learning a new behavior, she should be rewarded every time she does the behavior, which means continuous reinforcement. It may be necessary to use a technique called "shaping", which means reinforcing something close to what you wanted, and then gradually demand more from your dog before she gets the treat. For example, if I'm teaching my dog to "shake paw," I may initially reward her for lifting her paw off the ground, then for lifting it higher, then for touching my hand, then for letting me hold her paw, and finally, for actually "shaking paws" with me.

Staggered reinforcement can be used once your pet has reasonably learned the behavior. At first, reward her with the treat 3 out of every 4 times she does the behavior. Then, over time, gradually decrease the giving of treat, replacing food, with praise, until you're only rewarding her occasionally with the treat. Although once your dog has learned the behavior, your praise can be less exhuberant, such as a quiet, but positive, "Good dog." Mix up your training schedule of reinforcement so that she doesn't get wise to the fact that she only has to respond every other time.

By understanding reinforcement, you'll see that you do not need to carry a 50lb bag of treats with you wherever you go. Your dog will soon be working for your kind words and praise. Use any and all opportunities to reinforce her behavior. You may have her "sit" before letting her out the door, which with time will mean for her that an open door does not mean bolt out and down the street.

It's a good idea to make your dog sit or lie in a calm and submissive state before she gets anything...this means before the leash goes on, calm and submissive is the key, before she eats, before she is invited into the car for a ride, before she plays, when play time is over ect. This exercise will strengthen your leadership statis with your dog.

The Pros and Cons of Punishment

Punishment means giving your pet something unpleasant immediately after she does something you don't want her to do. The punishment makes it less likely that the behavior will occur again. To be effective, punishment must be delivered while your pet is engaged in the undesirable behavior—in other words, "caught in the act." If the punishment is delivered too late, even seconds later, your pet will not associate the punishment with the undesired behavior.

If you punish your dog, it will only undermine your authority and your dog will start to not trust you. If you're too late in giving it, punishment will be confusing to your dog. She's likely to become fearful, distrustful, and/or aggressive, which will only lead to more behavior problems. What we often read as "guilty" looks are in fact submissive postures by our dogs. Animals don't have a sense of right and wrong, but they do key into your (energy), and the presence of impending punishment.

You should definitely stop using punishment and use only positive reinforcement/whispering instead.

Never use physical punishment that involves discomfort or even pain, which may cause your pet to bite . Holding by the scruff of the neck, and shaking your dog, or performing "alpha rolls" or flooding methods.. (forcing your dog onto her side and pinning her on the floor), are likely to end with you getting bitten.

Also, your dog may become focuced on other things that are there when the punishment is given, including people. For example, a dog who is punished for getting too close to a small child may become fearful of, or aggressive to that child. That's why physical punishment is not only bad for your pet, it's also bad for you and others.

Harley Harrington
Senior Trainer
K9 Dog Academy
506-375-9017

2009-07-17T10:06:00.000-03:00

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2009-07-15T17:22:00.000-03:00

Guard Dog Training

2009-07-15T10:07:00.000-03:00