House Training A Puppy: Dog Training, Northern Virginia

Bringing home a new puppy is like Christmas every morning, until you realize that you need to house train your puppy. You know, those mornings when you wake up to a mess in your floor. House training a new puppy can be emotionally and physically exhausting. Between getting up at night to take them potty, to learning proper ways to teach them how to potty outside, and not in the house, it can become overwhelming for new owners. At our puppy training classes in Northern Virginia, we do a puppy consultation to help get you and your dogs on the right path.  Here are some helpful hints to ease the transition from new puppy to house trained pet.

Hint #1: Practice Makes Perfect: Like little kids, potty training a puppy is all about perseverance. If at first you don't succeed, try try again. Taking your puppy out once an hour, and more often they smaller they are, will give your puppy a chance to relieve themselves outside. It will also teach them, with continued success, that going potty outside is preferred. 

Hint #2: Be Prepared: Have a crate readily available when you bring home your new puppy.  A crate is imperative in the house breaking process.  Your dog should be in the crate unless he/she is being "directly" supervised.  A new puppy should spend a good portion of their life in the crate.  So, ensure during the phase of house training your puppy, if you do not have DIRECT supervision, they should be crated.

Hint #3: Get Help: Like most humans, we all think we need to be the doers of everything. We don't want to appear weak, needy or incapable; so instead of asking for help when we need it, we overload ourselves. If you're schedule is packed, and you don't have time; or if this is your first puppy, get some professional help. Find a puppy trainer in Northern Virginia to give you some advice on how to get your puppy trained and house ready. You may find you even want to give your pup a few obedience lessons as well just for good measure. Never be afraid of what other people think, if you need it, get some extra help. House training a puppy  is a science and a lot of things you can do wrong, so find a trainer!

Hint #4: If He Goes, You Go: Puppies usually aren't the only ones who need a little training. Especially if you've never had a pup before, it will inevitably do you some good to learn a lesson or two. Your best option, and your first one, should be to find a qualified dog trainer in Virginia, who can coach you and your new pup on how to interact with each other. While your puppy is learning everything he needs to know to be a great pet, you'll be learning the tools you need to be a great master and companion.

Whether this is your first attempt at training a puppy, or you're an old pro, it never hurts to have some help along the way. Whether that's an extra pair of hands to clean up, a pair of legs to run your pup outside or a trainer to help you both out, you'll both be better off in the end. To find a qualified professional in your area, try an internet search for K9 Trainers in Virginia, or go to www.offleashk9training.com

Nick White

Dog Training with Electronic Collars! Dog Training, Northern Virginia

5 Common Misconceptions about Dog Training

Ever since we’ve opened our training school for dogs right here in Northern Virginia, we’ve come across all sorts of inquiries—and misconceptions. We do feel bad about the latter because dog owners miss a very important service all because they’ve been misled for the longest time. 

So we opted to clear all these myths today:

“It’ too expensive!”

Definitely there are a lot of trainings that are terribly expensive they can surely break the bank, but it doesn’t have to be that way. If you’re interested in dog training Northern Virginia, you can look for training schools around the area and compare their prices. As for us, we charge around $600, which covers everything you need. Succeeding sessions will be only $100. 

More than the costs, you need to think of the value of the program. A dog training isn’t just to develop obedience and control. It’s also about building a strong relationship with your pet through more effective communication. 

“I have an e-collar, thank you.”

E-collars have become a well-known device for dog owners lately, and we at Northern Virginia dog training also use them. However, our goal is not to let those dogs wear these devices for the rest of their lives. Moreover, e-collars should not be utilized to develop submission but to foster obedience, excellent communication, and better change in behavior. The e-collars therefore are usually worn during the first phases of training. After that, they are removed since the dogs would have already been more responsive to commands even without them. 

We always say that e-collars are mere taps on their shoulders, our way of telling them that we see something wrong or aware of their bad behavior, and we want them to pay attention to us so we could correct it. 

“It’s meant for K-9s only.”

It’s true that most dog training schools around country have managed K-9 dogs from various defense departments. But that doesn’t mean the services are meant for the K-9s only. After all, all dogs need to be disciplined and nurtured properly. Nevertheless, since no dog is the same, we always try to make sure to customize the training according to the dog’s temperament and even your relationship with the pet. 

“I still have a puppy with me.”

I remember how my mom used to say, “Never underestimate people, including babies.” It’s exactly the same thing with pets. A lot of people think that only large and old dogs can be trained. In fact, on our side, we think it’s best to start very early. That’s why we have puppy training Northern Virginia! Puppies, like babies, have fewer bad habits, so they are much easier to train.

“As they say, you can’t teach old dogs new tricks.”

Again, it doesn’t really mater how old the dog is. If you have a good trainer, he or she will always learn something new and change for the better. We have trained numerous old dogs that have been into several nasty habits for many years, and yet they have changed within a short period of time. 

Nick White

Off-Leash K9 Training

www.offleashk9training.com

Dog Problem Solving: Dog Training Northern Virginia

Whether your dog eats your house while your away, doesn't travel well or gets snippy with invited guests, most behavior issues come from two possible sources.  Sometimes dogs are received from places that did not breed very well, and sometimes as their owner it can be hard to know what to do to teach them, and so we do the wrong things. Here are some useful bits of information on behaviors. If you puppy or dog is displaying any of them, you'll be more informed if you decide to talk to a trainer.

Behavior #1: Separation Anxiety: I have a Eurasier, and he can't stand to be left inside when my family leaves. He is a family oriented breed, and doesn't appreciate being left behind. To show his great disapproval, he would chew the corners off our walls, and eat our doors until we had to replace them. Separation Anxiety in dogs is a very common mis-behavior in dogs, and is easily fixed.

Cure: While no behavior issue can be solved overnight, there are some steps you can take to help your pup adjust better when he's left behind. If your dog has a crate, try putting them inside it, during the day. Even when you're home, they should spend time throughout the day in their crate. If you don't have one, you can use a bedroom to enclose them. This will help them learn to “be alone” even while you're still home and this is one of the many ways you can deal with separation anxiety training in Northern Virginia

Behavior #2: Aggression: While some people think that aggression is bred into dogs, it in fact is not. No dog wants to be aggressive, and will usually only exhibit this behavior when needed. There are some simple steps to help you deal with the aggression in your dog to return it to a easy going, loveable member of your family

Cure: Start by leading. If a dog doesn't see it's owner as a “pack leader” it will assume that role and try to dominate the situation by showing aggression. Don't show fear. Dogs are very sensitive to fear and will react accordingly. Your dog needs to feel secure in your leadership, that you can be in control of yourself, him and the environment you're both in.  We do a lot of dog aggression training in northern virginia and are able to help fix these issues by teaching the owners steps they need to take and teach the dogs how to interact with other dogs properly.

Behavior #3: Disrespect/Bad Manners: Dogs can sense that their “leader” isn't really leading. If they sense this from you, they may act out by showing disrespect for your attempts to lead. If you catch your dog taking food off your table, for instance, more than likely he doesn't respect your leadership role.

Cure: Learning proper correction techniques, and assertive leadership will help you curb this behavior in your dog before it becomes a bad habit. Talk to an Off-Leash K9 Training trainer in order to learn more about how to correct this bad behavior in your dog, and how to learn how to be an effective leader.  We will teach you pack leadership techniques to start working on at your house as well as incorporating our dog training in Northern Virginia.

Whether your dog is showing aggression, disrespect or simple bad manners, these behaviors can be turned around. Contact your local trainer for more information. For those of you who live in Virginia, you can contact the qualified trainers at www.offleashk9training.com

New Puppy: Essentials To Start

So you have decided to take a big leap, and pick yourself up a new puppy. You find the cutest, fluffiest, most adorable puppy ever, and you bring him home. The next morning you wake up to find that your cute puppy chewed through all your shoes, and is nosing his way through your garbage with a string of toilet paper trailing behind him. And you can't call puppy trainers in Northern Virginia fast enough! Here are some tips for boosting your puppy's overall success. 

Tip #1: Train Well: Every well behaved puppy starts with great training. Puppies and dogs, just like humans, have to start out with learned behavior. And there's no better way to train a brand new puppy, than our puppy training in Northern Virginia.  This is where we discuss pack leadership, confidence building, house breaking, and many other things!

Tip #2: Bonding Time: Puppies need to know who's in charge. That's why people who own dogs have always been referred to as the pack leader. Puppies grow up to be dogs, and dogs run in packs. If a dog is going to integrate well into your life,  it needs to know that you are the pack leader, so that it will obey when you give it a command and respect your higher position.

Tip #3: Eat Good, Be Good: Proper nutrition is just as important for your new puppy as it is for you. If you've ever binged on chocolates and other sugar filled foods, you'll know how true this is. Talk to a vet or your puppies trainer if you need help determining which food(s) are appropriate for your puppy.

Tip #4: Play Time: While training is a vital part of helping a puppy develop the skills needed to be a great companion, play time is vital to their overall growth too. Be sure, in the midst of your busy schedule, that you take time to play with your new puppy. Both of you will benefit from the general activity of play time.  You will see that your new puppy will become very tired and will sleep for a couple hours after your interactive sessions.

Tip #5: Location: Wherever you live be sure to find a reputable trainer, preferably one who has references, to train your new bundle of joy. If you happen to live in Northern Virginia, there's no better place to take your pup, than Off Leash K-9 Training. We teach your dog everything it needs to know in order to be your best friend.

Whether your new puppy is starting out on the right foot or not, sometimes specialized training is needed to help them reach their ultimate potential. Find a great trainer, remember to play around, feed your pup the best, and most importantly enjoy every minute of your new friend's time.  If you're having trouble locating a trainer, ask friends and family for a reference, and always talk to a trainer before scheduling any sessions. Ask for their credentials, references, and videos. This will undoubtedly put your mind at ease, to know that your puppy will be well trained, and well taken care of. To learn more about training your new puppy or to get important information you can visit: www.offleashk9training.com.

Nick White

Off-Leash K9 Training

www.offleashk9training.com

www.facebook.com/offleashk9

www.youtube.com/offleashk9training

Training A Dog with Distractions: Northern Virginia

Off leash dog training Northern Virginia, ensures that a dog behaves just as well when off the leash as they do when they are on it. If you attempt to train a dog to be obedient off a leash without passing through the on leash training, you will be faced with a hard task.

As I tell people on a daily basis, "If your dog is not near flawless without distractions, why try doing distraction work?"  That is literally just setting your dog up for failure.

Dog Obedience Training Northern Virginia

By the time you finish off leash Northern Virginia Dog training, the dog should be good at responding to basic commands when on the leash such as come, place, sit, and heel among others. The key is for the dog to respond to basic commands even when there are distractions around on and off a leash. The leash should be on the dog at the beginning to ease it into the off leash training session gradually. There should be a successful and gradual progression from one command to the other.

Introduce distractions

The last step is to introduce distractions into the off leash K9 training session. You can choose a place where there are other dogs, cats and people such as a park. Follow the same pattern outlined above and if the dog gets distracted then get back to the earlier training ground until you are sure they have regained focus, before getting back to training in the area with distractions.

If your dog isn't focused when in an off leash distracted area, than that means you need to go back to the basics of on leash or an area without distractions. 

Remember, if your dog isn't near flawless on a long leash or with distractions, then you shouldn't even attempt off leash or distracted training.

Nick White

www.offleashk9training.com

www.facebook.com/offleashk9

Separation Anxiety in Dogs: Dog Training in Northern Virginia

Nervous dogs, or those which have had a history of abuse, often exhibit anxiety when left alone. This can manifest itself as barking or whining, chewing furniture or simply cowering away somewhere it feels more protected. The general term is separation anxiety, and can affect many animals and even humans. For most dogs it is easy to cure. Separation anxiety is caused in most cases by the dog not being confident that it is an accepted part of your 'pack'. In our Northern Virginia dog training sessions we can show you how to gradually correct separation anxiety and in the process make a happy, well adjusted dog which is a pleasure to own instead of a liability.

If a dog is properly treated from birth, then you are unlikely to have any problem with separation anxiety. It is a learnt behaviour, and never a natural, inbuilt characteristic of a particular breed. As such, and as with any learnt behaviours, it is possible to correct if you are prepared to put in the effort. In our Northern Virginia dog training courses we have specialists who are very experienced with separation anxiety cases. They will work with you to show you that it is not difficult to correct, as long as you have patience.

Take small steps and never allow your dog to become stressed.

Every dog is slightly different and requires slightly different approaches to the separation anxiety problem. Some dogs get anxious as soon as the owner is out of their line of sight. Some are OK as long as there is a person somewhere in the house. Still others only become stressed after a certain time of separation. The symptoms of separation anxiety also vary widely, as discussed above. In all cases, though, the same basic principles apply, though the way they are best applied require expert assessment. This is why you need advice from experienced trainers such as those at our Northern Virginia dog training courses.

The breed of the dog is not significant. Large dogs can suffer just as easily as smaller dogs. However rescue dogs seem to suffer from the symptoms of separation anxiety more than most, probably because of some past physical or mental mistreatment. This should be born in mind when taking on a rescue dog. Furthermore the behaviour of the owner when leaving can significantly stimulate anxiety. Consequently, eliminating this problem is as much about training owners as it is about dog training.

Generally, dogs with separation anxiety need more separation.  Meaning, you should put them in their crate or in another room all throughout the day, even when you are still home.  Just to get them accustom to being alone and separated throughout the day while you are still in the home.  Also, try to make it a positive experience, such as giving them a favorite toy or treat.

Nick White
Off-Leash K9 Training
www.offleashk9training.com
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www.youtube.com/offleashk9training

Training for Competition Obedience: Obedience Training, Northern Virginia

Once you have gone through the processes of house training and basic off-leash training, why not go one stage further? Competition obedience training can be fun, interesting, and best of all your dog will really enjoy it. Dogs are made to be active, and competition obedience training fits the bill perfectly. Our obedience courses in Northern Virginia will exercise your dog physically as well as mentally. Mental fitness is very important for an animal that is naturally inquisitive and has a huge capacity for learning new things

If competition obedience seems beyond your capabilities at the moment, then just remember back to when your dog was a puppy. Did you think then that it would never be the happy, well adjusted animal that it is now? (if this is not the case, then you certainly need to attend one of our general obedience courses in Northern Virginia). Well, if you engage in competition obedience  training you will discover a whole new way to enjoy time with your dog. Competition obedience puts you in contact with very interesting people some of who might become firm friends, gives you the opportunity to travel and socialise, your dog will enjoy it immensely, and best of all you will experience the thrill of competition.

Don't attempt competition work until you are confident.

The only way to judge whether you and your dog is ready to escalate to the competition obedience training level is to seek expert advice. Come along and watch one of our obedience courses in Northern Virginia and seek the advice of an expert. One of our trainers will soon be able to tell you whether you and your dog is ready. If not, they can suggest an additional training program to bring you up to the necessary level. Your dog must be willing to train and enjoy training with you more than it enjoys all the inevitable distractions around it.

We have taken many dogs up to championship level competition obedience and believe that most dogs can achieve a level which allows you to enjoy attending trials, whether they be just local fun events or more serious competitions where you will be up against some very competent dogs and owners. When you reach this level, you will find that progress becomes very rapid and the communication between you and your dog will become almost instinctive.

Nick White

Off-Leash K9 Training

www.offleashk9training.com

www.youtube.com/offleashk9training

www.facebook.com/offleashk9

The Art and Science of Off Leash Dog Training: Dog Training, Northern Virginia

One of the most important training factors in producing a well-rounded, confident and happy dog is to have your dog under control both on the leash and running free. If your dog is nervous around other people or dogs in the park or other open space, it is probably because it does not yet accept you as the pack leader and therefore is not certain how to behave. Off-leash training is a fundamental part of the process. As soon as you become the pack leader, your dog will mirror your own behaviour towards other people and animals.

Off-leash training is a vital aspect of the training process, but one of the most difficult to achieve. At our dog training sessions in Northern Virginia and throughout our other venues in the USA we aim to teach owners how to quickly gain the skills needed to control the dog no matter what the distractions. One of the main qualities you need is patience. Full control of your dog will not be gained overnight, though at each dog training session you will see a marked improvement. You can take a private session with one of our expert trainers. They include some of the best ex-military trainers in the country and really know their stuff. Off-leash training of dogs used by the military has to be done to the highest possible standards, and all this knowledge and experience is at your disposal.

E-collar training

Many people regard e-collar training as a last resort for difficult dogs. We believe that it has a role to play in the off-leash training of any dog. It must, though,  be used sparingly and in conjunction with marker training if you want to get the best results in the shortest time, and so realize the full potential of your dog. Dog training is as much about training the owner as it is about training the dog. In our courses we insist on using an e-collar in the proper manner, not to punish in any way but to bring the dog out of a bad state of mind, such as aggression, nervousness or excessive playfulness. It is used simply to divert the dog's attention back to you, it's owner, rather than something in the environment that is disturbing it.  As you will see in our 400+ Youtube videos, with our proper training techniques, we produce highly confident, obedient, and happy dogs.

Your dog will quickly learn that it does not need to try to control situations itself, but that you are in control both of the dog and anything that is happening around you. Instead of trying to deal with problems itself, it will learn to look to you for guidance. Your dog will then naturally become attentive to you at all times. This is really why successful off-leash training is the only way to achieve a fully happy and confident animal.

Nick White

www.offleashk9training.com

www.youtube.com/offleashk9training

Successful Off-Leash Training is the Key To A Happy Dog: Puppy Training, Northern Virginia

One of the questions we are most often asked is “how can I control my dog off the leash?”. When you first get a new dog or puppy, you will probably be dreaming of taking long, enjoyable walks with your dog and taking it everywhere without fear that it will get you and itself into trouble. Well, we believe that any dog, regardless of breed, can be trained to be a pleasurable companion, or trained to be a nightmare companion. Either way, it is what you and the dog learns that determines its behaviour. The earlier you start to off-leash training, the better the results. This is why we believe strongly in our puppy training courses in Northern Virginia which gives you a the your puppy a very strong foundation to start with.

That said, successful off-leash training is the most difficult aspect of training to achieve, which is what makes our dog training in Northern Virginia so popular. Before you start it is essential to realize that it will take patience and persistence, otherwise you will quickly lose hope and give up. It is, of course, best to start with one of our puppy training courses in Northern Virginia, since the dog has no established behaviour patterns which have to be corrected before training can begin. However, we believe that any dog can be taught correct off-leash behaviour, no matter what its age or breed.

Always start with on leash obedience training

Before starting off-leash training it is essential that you have control while on the leash and in the confines of your home. Ideally our puppy training courses in Northern Virginia is the best place to begin. Once you have the basic groundwork done and your dog is attentive most of the time when on the leash, only then can successful off-leash training begin. Even then it is wrong to try to jump straight into off-leash training. We always start with long leash training, so that the dog gets used to paying attention when it is some distance away from you. This gradual process will ensure that the dog gets to understand that you are still pack leader even when it is not physically tied to you in any way. Only then can full off-leash training begin.

Naturally you need a safe place to train your dog, which is exactly what our venues in Northern Virginia and throughout the US provide. You should remember that allowing your dog to run free in an open space before training is complete can undo a lot of patient work. While training is under-way it is best to always keep your dog on a long leash when at the local park or other open places. It is tempting to see your dog enjoy running free, but if it encounters situations which it does not know how to handle then it will become stressed and maybe even aggressive, making both you and the dog unhappy.

Nick White

www.offleashk9training.com

www.facebook.com/offleashk9

Aggressive Dog Training in Northern Virginia

Our aggressive dog training courses work on the principle that there is no dog in the world that  prefers to be aggressive. An aggressive dog will be just as unhappy as its owners about the situation. Aggression is caused by the dog's environment putting it under some kind of stress. This is why our Northern Virginia dog training courses focus on the dog owner as much as the dog. It is essential for owners to understand that dogs are animals with well developed social needs which differ in many respects from human social structures. Smart owners will recognise this and work to understand the dog's natural needs and instincts. Attending one of our Northern Virginia dog training sessions will quickly show you how simple it is to make an aggressive dog into a relaxed and happy member of your family.

We specialise in training for aggressive dogs in Northern Virginia. Our experienced trainers will observe and analyse your dog's behaviour and show you exactly why it is exhibiting this behaviour. When it is explained to you, you will quickly get insight into the way a dog reacts to it's environment. There is no mystery, although you might just now be at your wit's end trying to figure out what is causing the aggression. Come along to one of our Northern Virginia dog training sessions and you will see how quickly aggression can be turned around.

Learn how aggression is a natural reaction when your dog is under stress

Your dog is probably not aggressive all the time, though red zone dogs may exhibit extremes of bad behaviour. Red zone or not, here at Northern Virginia dog training we understand that aggressive behaviour is not related to the dog's breed. Tiny chihuahuas can be as bad as pit bulls, although of course some breeds are naturally stronger and can do more damage. The fact is that any dog will be aggressive if it thinks the situation demands it. Our Northern Virginia dog training sessions explain clearly the main causes of bad behaviour as well as why your particular animal is straying from the right path.

The chief amongst the causes of aggression are fear, the natural instinct to step into the role of pack leader if the owner is not fulfilling this role and frustration. For example, often times leash aggression occurs when the dog does not view you as pack leader, i.e. not in control of both it and other dogs in the area. When it is happy to accept you as leader its behaviour towards other dogs will mirror your own. The same applies to bad behaviour towards humans. Our training sessions for aggressive dogs in Northern Virginia are your first steps towards a happy and well behaved animal which will be a pleasure to own.

Here in this video below, you will see a dog aggressive dog we worked with at our facility in Northern Virginia.  As you will see in the before video, he is highly reactive and in the after video you will see him calmly walking next to the same dog.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on9C8btOAIA

Nick White

www.offleashk9training.com

www.facebook.com/offleashk9

Learn the Art of Controlling Your Dog Off Leash

A badly behaved dog off the leash is a very stressful experience for both the dog and the owner. If your dog is ignoring you once it is allowed to run free, then it is time to do some serious additional training. Our off leash k9 training sessions involve a step by step, well proven technique for keeping your dog fully under control at all times, whether on the leash or off.

With patience and the right approach it is possible to have any dog respond quickly to a recall, regardless of whether it is interacting with other dogs or distractions. It will be always attentive to your voice and will always find your company a better alternative than what it is doing at the time, no matter how interesting. This is the primary aim of our off leash k9 training courses, and we have plenty of experience of difficult dogs in our Northern Virginia dog training courses.

The first essential is not to allow your dog off the leash until it has learnt to respond immediately while on the leash. The secret is to get your dog into a calm, unexcited state even before it enters an open space. For example before getting out of the car or leaving the house make sure that your dog is reminded who is the pack leader. A dog that never gets overexcited, that is the essence of successful off leash k9 training.

Step by step training

Once we have shown you how to be confident that your dog will respond while on a short leash, it is time to progress to long leash training. This takes time to achieve if your dog is used to running free and wild as soon as it is released. Off leash k9 training must start with long leash training before you even think about allowing free running. Our Northern Virginia dog training  sessions show you all the techniques that will work best with your particular dog, so this difficult phase of the training can be accomplished as quickly as possible. Soon you will begin to understand what motivates your dog to respond unfailingly to the return command, and be confident that it will return even when it is free running and appears to be thoroughly absorbed in some interesting doggy activity.

Nick White

www.offleashk9training.com

www.facebook.com/offleashk9

Crate Training A Dog: House Breaking A Puppy

First off, congratulations on your new perfect puppy! Many people do not realize how much work some puppies can be for the first six months of their lives, and that’s just the beginning. Essentially, it is like having a newborn baby in many ways as you may have already figured out. Puppies require constant attention and, just like babies, are more than likely waking you up in the middle of the night.

In general, with crate training for your dog, your puppy should be almost completely housebroken by the age of four to five months. This age can vary depending on how effective you are throughout this process. Remember, your dog does not decide how long it takes to be house-trained, you do.  We go over this subject daily for our puppy training in Northern Virginia.

You are probably wondering, “Where do I start?” First, get a crate, preferably one with a divider so you can expand the living space for your pup as it grows. It is nearly impossible to house-train a puppy without using a crate. Housebreaking a puppy is based entirely on the crate-training system. Crate training teaches a puppy the crate is its spot to go; it’s the equivalent of its home. More important, it becomes a location to hold your puppy during the housebreaking process when he cannot be directly supervised.

Pick a crate big enough for your dog to lie down, stand up (without his or her back touching the top of the cage), and spin around in a circle. Do not put a small puppy inside a large crate. They should have not have much more room than described above. I always recommend getting a large crate that has the adjustable divider in it. This way, you only need to buy one crate and can adjust the space as your puppy grows. If you find your puppy is going to the restroom inside the crate, you may want to reduce the size of the space. Often, if the crate is too large in relation to the size of your puppy, he does not have a problem going in the back corner of the crate because he can get far enough away from the mess that it doesn’t affect him as much.

Your puppy should be in its crate a lot for the first couple of months it is home with you. Don’t feel bad about keeping him in the crate. To put it into perspective, a crib is simply a crate for babies. You put babies in their cribs to protect them from themselves. A puppy should be looked at the same way.

Take the initiative with your puppy. As a general rule, your puppy will have to go outside approximately 30 minutes after eating or drinking. So if you know he just ate or drank a lot of water, take the initiative and take him out; do not wait for him to go in the house. Also, it is a good idea to take him out after a good play session in the house. If you are playing tug, chasing the ball, or getting the puppy really excited, it is always a good idea to take the initiative and take him out after these sessions, as well.

Using a keyword phrase during housebreaking is very important. From the first day you get your puppy, start to implement a keyword while your puppy is going to the restroom outside. Most people prefer the phrase “go potty.” So any time your pup is sniffing in the grass when you take him outside, repeat the key phrase “go potty.” As soon as your pup uses the restroom, immediately praise him (verbally, physically, and/or with a treat). Over time, he will associate the key phrase “go potty” with the act of going to the restroom, about a month into the housebreaking process. After this period, if you see your pup start to display that he is going to go to the restroom in the house (tail up, sniffing around in circles, etc.), repeat that phrase he has been hearing from day one, “Do you have to go potty?” He will recognize that key phrase he has associated with going outside and will run to the door, indicating that he does indeed have to go out. This is the first step of progress for housebreaking.

Use a bell on a string to teach your puppy to let you know that he has to go outside. Tie a bell to the end of a string and hang it from the doorknob at approximately your pup’s chest level. Every time you take your pup outside, ring the bell with his paw. Praise him immediately and open the door. Doing this every time you go out teaches the dog that ringing the bell equals the door opening. Over a period of time, your pup will learn: “If I have to go outside to the restroom, I ring bell and the door opens.”

The most important thing to effectively housebreak your puppy is total supervision. I will state it again, because it is that important: total supervision..What does that mean? Simple; it means if your puppy is not inside its crate, you or another member of the household should be directly supervising him. Until the pup is completely housebroken, there should never come a time when he is in a room alone. To put it into perspective, if you are downstairs with your puppy and decide to take a shower, even if it is just five minutes, put your pup inside its crate. Again, think of your pup as a baby. If you have a baby and you are going to jump in the shower or leave the room to fold laundry, would you leave a baby just sitting in the living room by itself? No, you would put it in the crib. Again, a crib is simply a crate for babies.  When doing our puppy training in Northern Virginia, we generally realize this is people's biggest mistake, lack of supervision. 

If, while supervising your pup, you see him squat and start peeing or pooping, immediately give a loud verbal, “No!” Pick him up, immediately take him outside, and set him down in the yard. Then repeat that key phrase, “Go potty.” As soon as he finishes, give praise (verbal, physical, and/or a treat) and take him back inside. There should never be any punishment involved. Rubbing his nose in it, hitting him, rolling a newspaper—these are all things that are proven ineffective. More important, it just breaks down the bond between you and your pup. Physically punishing a puppy for going to the restroom in the house is like spanking a one-year-old for going in their diaper.

Many people ask, “What if I didn’t catch him in the act, but noticed he went to the restroom in the house?” Very simple, do absolutely nothing. That’s right, do absolutely nothing. Write it off as a failure on your part, clean it up, and move on. Again, do not punish the puppy. You failed him, he did not fail you. You violated the biggest rule in housebreaking: You failed to give him total supervision. This is so important it is worth mentioning once more: If you do not physically catch your dog in the act, chalk it up to a loss on your behalf and move on. Make it your goal to catch him every single time. For every time your pup goes in the house without being caught in the act, you add a few more days to the housebreaking process. So, if he is going in the house a couple times per day without getting caught in the act, the housebreaking process can be really prolonged..

Your puppy should sleep in the crate every night when you go to bed (again, because if you are sleeping, you cannot directly supervise him). When you first wake up in the morning, take him from the crate straight outside and use the key phrase (“Go potty”). If your puppy does not go to the restroom, take him back in the house and put him back into the crate. Approximately 15 to 20 minutes later. take him out of the crate, back outside, and repeat the process. Repeat this until your puppy does go to the restroom outside. This does two things: It prevents him from coming back in and minutes later going to the restroom in your house and will teach your puppy that he has to go to the restroom or he will keep going back into the crate until he does. After a few days of this, he will just go outside the first time you take him out. After he goes to the restroom outside, bring him back into your house and leave him out of the crate, remembering to directly supervise him.

We recommend that you do not put padding in the crate until the pup is housebroken and more mature. We stress this point daily at our dog training in Northern Virginia, Off-Leash K9 Training. We feel this is important for a couple of reasons. Most important, if you are gone, your puppy will more than likely chew, shred, or eat this padding/bedding at some point, which can become a choking hazard for a small puppy. Additionally, often puppies who have padding in the crate will still urinate in their crate because the padding acts as a sponge and absorbs the urine. Therefore, it does not bother them to urinate there; the padding acts as a diaper.

What about puppy pads? I think puppy pads are a bad idea, especially if you have a puppy that will grow into a large dog. Puppy pads teach the puppy it’s okay to go to the restroom in the house, however, only in this specific area. I find it much easier to teach them it’s never acceptable to go to the restroom in the house. Additionally, as the pup grows into a larger dog, do you really want them going to the restroom inside your house? They may go in a specific spot, however, the smell usually permeates the whole house.

Another important thing to remember is to never let your dog out of the crate if he is actively barking or whining. This will teach your dog that if he barks and whines long enough, you will let him out. It is like the child who throws a fit in the middle of the toy store, and then the parents buy the kid a toy. The child simply learns that if he makes a big enough scene, he will get his way. Dogs learn the same way. So never let your dog out of the crate if he is actively barking or whining. Doing so rewards bad behavior. Your pup should learn that he gets out of the crate only when he is quiet. Just to clarify, your new puppy may whine in the middle of the night to let you know he has to go out. It is then acceptable to let him out of the crate, take him outside, use the key phrase, then come back in. However, once your puppy is old enough to hold it throughout the night (generally around three to four months of age), never let him out based on whining or barking.

During the housebreaking process, we usually recommend cutting off food and water around 7 p.m. This is done to ensure that all of the water has passed through the pup’s system by the time you go to sleep (assuming you are going to bed around 9 p.m. or later). If you cut off food and water at around 7 p.m., it will minimize having to go in the middle of the night. Additionally, do not put food or water in the crate with the pup; again, this will cause him to have to go to the restroom in the middle of the night.

Never use the crate as a place to punish your puppy, as hard as it sometimes may be. If you start using the crate as a place of punishment, the pup will start to hate it, will not want to go in, and will no longer see it as its “home.” Rather, he will see at is a prison. The crate should always be looked upon as something positive. The crate should be seen by the dog, as you see your bedroom, as a place to go, get away, and relax. It is also a good practice to feed him in the crate or give him a treat every time he goes in, again, associating it with something positive. 

If you follow all these principles, you should have a very short housebreaking process and a dog that loves going into the crate.

Nick White

www.offleashk9training.com

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How Northern Virginia Dog Trainers Can Teach Your Dog to Respect You

One problem many dog owners experience is that their pet dogs don’t seem to respect them – as a consequence, these dogs will never follow instructions even when you have exhausted your storehouse of patience teaching them. This may be the best time to seek help from Off-Leash K9 Training.

At Off-Leash K9 Training, we can help you learn to assert yourself as the pack leader for your dog. Your dog has to learn who is at the top of the totem pole in your family hierarchy and that person should be you, not your dog. Dogs can exhibit a range of rude behaviors that stem from lack of pack leadership on your behalf.

One example of very bad behavior is when your dog steals food from the dining table when your back is turned. Your dog might even resort to tearing up garbage bags in an effort to get kitchen scraps. Unless your dog is malnourished or underfed, there should be no reason for your dog to do this.  One of the things you will learn in your first lesson at our dog training facility in Northern Virginia is pack leadership and proper correction for the unwanted behavior. 

Take note that you are also being trained when you enroll your dog in at our dog training in Northern Virginia. This is because you are viewed by your dog as the “parent” in the family – and like human kids, you can expect your “child” to misbehave at times.  But that doesn’t mean you don’t love them. It just means your dog has to learn better manners than he already has. This is where we step in and teach you proper communication so that you can set clear communication and boundaries for your dog.

At Off Leash K9 Training, we cannot produce miracles overnight. However, we can help your dog (and you) drastically progress in a very short amount of time as you will see in our 400+ before/after videos on our youtube channel. 

Nick White

www.offleashk9training.com

Off-Leash K9 Training, LLC

Train your puppy quickly and effectively with positive reinforcement techniques

Train your puppy quickly and effectively with positive reinforcement techniques

The modern approach to puppy training, and indeed dog training in general, is a far cry from the old methods of punishing bad behaviour. It is now know that using positive reinforcement, such as treats and praise, works far better and will cause your puppy to want to behave well and be always seeking your approval and respect, rather than behaving simply out of fear.

Our methods of puppy training in Northern Virginia rely exclusively on positive methods, added to which we train owners to understand the social aspects of dog behaviour. They are not human beings and have their own doggy culture, standards and behaviours. Many of these are built in to their genes and can only be adapted to human society. This is particularly true of puppy training in Northern Virginia. Puppies do not yet have any learnt behaviours, so owners will be able to learn by observation how a dog would behave in the natural world and gain a deeper understanding of their dog.

 

The right approach leads to a well adjusted and happy animal

Our courses in puppy training in North Virginia are aimed at producing a dog which has confidence in itself, is happy with its status within your family, is not continuously trying to dominate (this will only happen if the dog senses weakness in its owner) and is fully in control of itself. We help you to achieve this by educating you in dog psychology and how to maintain your place as leader of the pack. In fact for a fully balanced dog it is essential that the dog knows its status is at the bottom rung of the social scale. This does not mean it will be unhappy, just the opposite in fact. It will enjoy its life without feeling the need to compete for a better status. This is such an important factor that we pay great attention to it in all our courses of dog training in Northern Virginia. If you want an animal which is not living in a permanently stressed state it is vital to get this right. For first class courses on puppy training in Northern Virginia contact us today.

 

Nick White

Off-Leash K9 Training

www.offleashk9training.com

Why Bad Manners are Not Tolerated at Off-Leash K9 Training

Why Bad Manners are Not Tolerated at Off-Leash K9 Training.

Dogs are like children – at times they are sweet and cuddly and at other times you feel like you want to choke the life out of them. Haha. It is true that they will display bad manners sometimes. This is why if you are experiencing these issues, you will need the services of Northern Virginia dog trainers.

Bad manners should never be tolerated because once the bad manners become habitual it will be very difficult to make your dog stop doing them.  As a great saying goes, "The chains of habits are to light to be felt, until they become to heavy to be broken."  At Dog training Northern Virginia we will require your input as well during the training period because once your dog training ends, you will go home with your dog and practice what you and your dog learned.

One thing you should remember about bad manners is that the dog doesn’t know any better. Since you didn’t teach your dog to have good manners, how was he to know that what he was doing was annoying you? It is important to do dog training Northern Virginia using a firm and calm voice.  As you will see in our 400+ Youtube videos, we just simply "talk" to the dogs. 

Since you are the “parent” in the relationship, you have to be the one to dictate what happens and when during your training. This ranges from knowing when to feed your dog, to bathing him, to grooming. If you find that your dog resists you at every turn, then something is wrong with your pack leadership and you should contact us at Northern Virginia dog trainers to help you regain your “alpha parent” role in the relationship.

If you really want your pet dog to undergo Northern Virginia dog training, you should be in it for the long haul. Stay committed to teaching your dog better manners. Bad manners that have become habitual will take a longer time to eliminate though. We train over 60 dogs per week and we know what is best for your dog at Off Leash K9 Training and we are guaranteed to succeed with training your dog.

If you need help with teaching your dog better manners, it is recommended you seek out the services of Northern Virginia dog trainers. We will help you and your dog communicate better with one another so that you will emerge from dog training Northern Virginia with a better relationship, better obedience, and a better pack structure!

If you haven't already, check out our links for Off-Leash K9 Training below.  We have over 400 before/after videos on our Youtube channel so you can see what our pack leadership and training looks like for yourself.

Check out our highlight video!

http://youtu.be/7T17ZgrOc7k

Website:  www.alexandriadogtrainers.com

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/offleashk9

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Youtube:  www.youtube.com/offleashk9training

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Book: www.thebestdogtrainingbook.com

Changing Your Dog's Attitude: Dog Training, Northern Virginia

Why Northern Virginia dog trainers need to change your dog’s attitude

Every once in awhile, even the most patient of dog owners will realize that their dog has developed an attitude problem. This may apply to you. You know that your dog has a bad attitude when he tends to take the lead in the relationship. This may take the form of snapping and snarling when he encounters guests in the house, or barking at you when you try to give him a bath or take him out for a run. If your dog has an attitude problem like this, you should seek help from Off-Leash K9 Training, Northern Virginia.

Dog training Northern Virginia should be focused on making your dog understand that you are the leader and he is simply part of the pack. Why do some dogs grow to think that they are the alpha male in the family? Well, perhaps you didn’t notice that he was developing bad habits until they were manifested recently. For dogs that have developed a bad attitude, a course at dog training Northern Virginia would be greatly beneficial.

Lesson number one in Northern Virginia dog training should always be that your dog has to learn to follow your commands with no exceptions. So you could start off with your dog being trained by Northern Virginia dog trainers to consistently come and sit on command, even outside and off-leash. Eventually the dog training Northern Virginia will focus on you so you will be trained on how to properly use our training system. Your dog should be trained to enter doors on command (after you), to heel on command, to place on command, and to lie down on command, for starters.

One reason your dog developed a bad attitude is that he was left to decipher human behavior on his own. Have you tried talking to your dog? Part of dog training Northern Virginia is to learn how to communicate well with your dog, clear and crisp without yelling. Although scolding will certainly bring a response, you should also learn to praise your dog when he does something right. Teaching your dog wrong from right during Northern Virginia dog training will help eliminate that bad attitude he had developed.

Dog training Northern Virginia should not stop once your dog has emerged from the school. Dogs learn by repetition so always continue Northern Virginia dog training lessons at home until you and your dog have learned to make the dog training Northern Virginia lessons part and parcel of your daily life.

Check out our links below and see why we are the highest rated dog training business in the tri-state area!

Check out our highlight video!

http://youtu.be/7T17ZgrOc7k

Website:  www.offleashk9training.com

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/offleashk9

Google Reviews: https://plus.google.com/108095380796863846141/about?hl=en

Youtube:  www.youtube.com/offleashk9training

Twitter: @offleashk9train

Book: www.thebestdogtrainingbook.com

Confidence Building in Dogs Part 4: Socialization

What is socialization and why is it so important? It is getting your puppy acquainted with as many different animals, people, and circumstances as possible. In my opinion, socialization is one of the most important things in young puppies’ lives. If I were paid every time we received e-mails or calls about people-aggressive or dog-aggressive dogs, I could have retired by now. Almost all of these cases stem from a lack of socialization at a young age. When you get any new puppy, it is extremely important to get him to start interacting with other animals and people. 

To get your dog well socialized with people, try having everyone your puppy meets give him a treat. Imagine if everyone you met gave you $50. You would quickly grow very fond of people; your puppy will, too. Your pup will start making the association of “people equal great things for me.” You should make it your mission for your puppy to meet as many people and animals as possible. Not only as many people as possible, but as many types of people as possible—male, female, children, infants, and even different races. He should have complete exposure to as many variations of humans as possible.

Socializing your puppy with other dogs and animals is also extremely important. Again, most cases of aggression result from a lack of socialization. As I write this paragraph, there is a dog in our facility on its first lesson who is extremely people-aggressive. When I asked the owner how the dog got that way, he replied, “We never really had him around anyone other than our family.” With this particular Lab, you cannot even touch him without him trying to bite you. This is why socialization is so important. This should be something you start doing almost immediately after you bring your puppy home. This teaches him to properly interact with other dogs at an early age. Ensure you are socializing your dog with other dogs that are very friendly. Initially, we recommend this socialization should be with only a few dogs at a time. Also, it should be supervised to ensure it stays safe play.

Do not take your puppy to dog parks for socialization. Yes, you read this correctly, dog parks are a bad idea in my opinion. Again, we receive many e-mails from people whose dogs are now aggressive toward other dogs after being bitten at a dog park. People do not realize that this happens all the time, and they just do not hear about it. Only attacks on people make the news, not attacks on other dogs. The dogs at dog parks come from a wide variety of backgrounds and their owners often know very little about their own dog. Unlike a doggy day-care, in a dog-park environment, there are no trained supervisors walking around, ensuring the play is safe. Also, no evaluations are done in order to accept the dogs into the dog park. Essentially, you are taking a big gamble by exposing your dog to other dogs you know nothing about. 

Usually, the dogs in dog parks are of various sizes, backgrounds, and levels of training. Essentially, they are a pack of dogs. Dogs usually consider themselves a pack when there are four or more dogs present. As you know, any time there is a pack, there has to be a pack leader. In order for a dog to become the pack leader, he has to assert his force onto other dogs to show them he is in charge of the pack. The end result is a dog getting bitten. Now, your dog that you have done so great with is now dog-aggressive because he was bitten by another dog at a dog park, and now he associates dogs with being harmed.

There are numerous other ways to socialize your dog without the use of a dog park, such as taking them to a doggy day-care. As I mentioned above, doggy day-cares evaluate dogs before admitting them into their facility, drastically reducing the chances of a dominant dog being there. Additionally, they have trained personnel constantly monitoring the dogs’ behaviors. In the event that a dog does start displaying any dominant characteristics, they are immediately corrected or separated from the group. Another good way to socialize is one-on-one with other known dog-friendly dogs. Or take them to a pet store on the weekends so they can interact with other dogs and people.

A big misconception many people have is something along the lines of “I want my dog to protect my family; I don’t want him to be friendly with everyone.” Unfortunately, most people don’t know that socialization and a protection dog have absolutely nothing in common. In fact, almost all trained protection dogs are extensively socialized. They love people, kids, animals, and other dogs. They are friendly with everyone, and are taught to bite only a specific individual on command. An under-socialized and low-confidence dog is more prone to bite a person at random (a family member, child, neighbor, etc.). 

Regardless of what your goals are with your new dog—show, protection, detection, search and rescue, or just a regular household pet—socialization is one of the most important things you can do with a new puppy. A well-socialized dog is a much more confident dog, as well. It is confident around all people and animals. This is an essential step to ensure you have a happy, confident and well-trained dog.

Nick White

www.offleashk9training.com

info@offleashk9training.com