Training a dog or in other words, teaching a dog specific skills, whatever they may be is a process to be enjoyed. The pleasure of watching a dog begin to understand what you are trying to teach him and then begin to have fun doing it for you just because you reward him so happily and enthusiastically is immensely rewarding.

Most people envision the end product when they start to train a dog.  For instance, you want your dog to sit politely well away from the front door when the bell rings and allow guest into your home and then only advance to greet them nicely when told to do so.  That is the end product in your mind.  What actually happens is the dog goes wild with excitement at the sound of the bell, rushes madly to the door while barking his head off and leaps all over guests as soon as you open the door in spite of your efforts to contain his exuberance.  The difference between this scenario and the end-product is the training process. This can be a fun game you play with your dog if you plan it properly, set realistic step by step goals and celebrate each small success as a victory for both you and your dog. A start could be perfecting a sit-stay at a distance from the door for up to 1 minute, then you could add the doorbell (hint:help yourself out here by having the dog on leash!) and teach your dog to maintain his sit when the doorbell rings; then add people and so on and so on.  The key is to make sure each lesson is mastered before going on to the next one.  Reward your dog enthusiastically with treats and well earned praise every step of the way and he’ll cooperate.

The familiar saying that Rome wasn’t built in a day applies here. It takes patience and determination and the ability to accept setbacks along the road to reach your goal.  It also means a management plan in the meantime so that your dog does not continue to practice his old behavior while you are trying to teach him a new one. A few weeks of dedication to the training game with your dog can provide the two of you with a lifetime of pleasure in each other’s company. You never know where the training game might lead you…some of us find it addictive.  I have just achieved a Rally Novice title with Griffin, my fifth competition dog!

Remember if you need help, call a professional trainer. Don’t give up in frustration and bannish the dog to the garage when guests come by.

Feeding your dog is like feeding yourself and your family.  You feed yourself the best quality diet you can afford, so just do the same for your dog!  A good diet will be reflected in your dog’s health, his coat and his behaviour and ability to learn.

Generally, independent pet supply stores carry the best brands of food and the staff are trained to answer questions about the merits of the different types.  Grain-free formulas are best for many dogs and are readily available these days.  The first ingredient  listed in the composition of any dog food formula should be a meat  such as chicken or lamb rather than a meat meal or grain meal. Similarly a fish formula should list a fish first.  Additionally, the food should be preserved naturally rather than with chemicals.

How much should you feed?  Many people blindly follow the feeding instructions on the package.  It is important to remember that directions are a general guideline for a cross-section of breeds and not a specific amount tailored to your particular dog.  Even if you buy a small-breed or large-breed food, those descriptions still cover many breeds of dogs and do not take into account your dog’s metabolism, energy level or exercise and activity level.  A 10 year old Shih Tzu enjoying leisurely neighbourhood walks will not burn as many calories as an active 2 year old miniature poodle involved in agility four times per week.

How much you feed your dog is directly dependent on your dog’s appearance.  You should be able to see a waistline, his tummy should tuck up towards his rear end and you should be able to feel his ribs directly beneath his skin. There should be no more than a very small layer of fat on your dog’s body.  Measure exactly how much food you put in his bowl with a measuring cup.  This will make it easy for you to adjust the quantity up or down should you decide he needs to lose a little weight or put a little more on.

If you do need to adjust your dog’s food intake, keep in mind that weight loss on a dog can take quite some time and that gradual but steady weight loss is better for him/her just as it is for humans.  Weight gain initially can go quite quickly up to a certain point but will level off to a slower steadier gain with time.  Being underweight is rarely a problem for the average pet dog, but if you have adopted a dog from a shelter or a rescue organization, some of the dogs come from very disadvantaged backgrounds.

Unfortunately many dogs today are quite overweight and this shortens an already limited lifespan.  Excess pounds are very stressful to a dog’s heart and joints and general health.  Be kind to your dog and harden your heart to his pleading brown eyes

With the onset of winter it is not always possible to go for the usual walks with our dogs nor can we always exercise them in our yards due to icy conditions or the occasional snowstorm.

This is when mind games can be a lot of fun.  Mental exercise can be just as tiring for a dog as a good game of fetch but many people don’t know this. If you have ever taken an obedience class with your dog you probably noticed that he was tired for a while after you got back home.  Guess why?

One of the games dogs enjoy the most is Find it!  If your dog has no notion how to use his nose, start by putting him on a leash and having him sit.  Pretend to hide a cookie in plain sight. Hold him by his collar and keep him by your side while you ask him excitedly ‘Want it?’ , tell him to ‘Find it!’ and watch him pounce as you let him go. The next step would be to again keep him on leash and have someone hold him if he doesn’t have a Stay command, and hide the cookie just out of sight but in the same room while he is watching you.  Repeat the ‘Want it’ and ‘Find it’ and let him go.  Once he’s been sucessful a few times you can start making it harder by not letting him see exactly where you are putting the cookie and eventually hiding it out of his sight altogether.

For my dogs, who are very experienced at this game and good solid tracking dogs, I hide several cookies all over my house while they are behind a door in one room and then I let them hunt for them.  They always end up searching for at least 10 minutes after they have found the last one.  By then, tongues are hanging down to the ground and they head for the water bowl before going off for a nap.

Great fun for everyone, dogs and humans!

Welcome to my Pooch Central blog. I thought I would start off my messages with a subject which has been taking up a lot of my time lately, namely toweling off my dogs, including their feet, when they come in from the yard.  This procedure is essential in order to avoid constant floor washing.  Fortunately for me, there are no carpets in my house.

Many dogs don’t like having their feet handled, so this is something that you should get them used to as young puppies.  As soon as the little sweetheart is in your home, start handling all parts of his body on a regular basis.  Just stroke at first and gradually work up to holding and restraining gently until your pup is comfortable and relaxed in your grasp at all times. You can make the process enjoyable for him by feeding him tiny extra yummy treats the whole time.  This ‘training’ will pay off in spades for nail clipping, grooming, vet visits and the above mentioned toweling off when the weather is either wet or snowy.