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

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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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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

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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