We do an exercise in our group classes to get owners thinking about what their dog does and doesn’t like in terms of praise and punishment.  Since we teach exclusively non confrontational and no pain based punishment, we feel it is really important that our clients realize the power they have in using other tools to get their dog to stop doing undesirable behavior.

We ask students to raise their hands as we run through a list of things the dog might like including different type of rewards like treats and toys and different ways to correct your dog ranging from scolding to more harsh techniques just so we can show owners what not to use.

I had a nice review posted on Yelp the other day.  It is a really great success story of one client’s efforts to give her dog a new life, persistence and even of the benefits of a positively based training program.  I can’t really imagine what it would have been like for Elle if she had been in a training program where they tried to punish her with "tsssst", "no" or even worse use a correction collar every time she went off on her environment.   M called us about training and between finances and the thought of whether there really was any hope for her dog Elle, decided to take our group Life Skills Manners Class.  This is a class you can join any week so that people can start right away.  The curriculum is designed that each week starts with a sort of welcome to class intro exercise designed to just get your dog having a nice time playing with you.

There is a lot going on in each class, and students are all at different stages each week.  I told M that it would be a way for Elle to start, but I didn't really know how it would go.  The first week she was nervous and reactive.  She barked and charged at anything that moved so couldn't be anywhere near the other dogs, so she started class outside the main room and actually finished the first week isolated in one of our nap rooms with one of the training assistants.  We tried to use a gentle leader to calm her and couldn't even get it on her, so we did our best to fit her with an Easy Walk harness.

It is truly a happy time for Los Angeles and we are thrilled to tell you about two pet shops in the Westside Pavilion that will have dogs and cats available for adoption. The animals will be coming from L.A. city and L.A. county animal shelters.  This is a huge step in fighting puppy mills, educating the public about responsible pet ownership and reducing the number of unwanted pets.

Barkworks is a chain of stores that has faced numerous protests and claims about the source and health of the puppies being sold but hopefully that will all come to an end. Barkworks, located in Westside Pavilion, will be a pilot store and feature some dogs for adoption from L.A. county shelters.  If this goes well the owners of Barkworks say they will begin to convert all their stores into adoption centers.

January is Train Your Dog Month and not only do we want you to train your dog, we want to encourage everyone to train with positive methods.

Did you know that on average one in three pets get lost in their lifetime? Microchipping your dog increases your chances of being reunited by about 30%. It is such a simple procedure and can be done for a low cost of just $25 at Los Angeles Animal Services. Click here for more information on getting a microchip for your dog.

Once you do microchip your dog remember to keep your information up to date. If you get a new phone number or move, don’t forget to call the registry service for your microchip company so they can reunite you with your dog.

As this year comes to a close many of you will be making New Year Resolutions. Many of us aspire to start the new year with a healthy new outlook including eating right and working out.   Does your cuddly canine need a little boost in the right direction too? Your dog is your best friend, he loves you unconditionally, and he would be thrilled to be your running partner, or your walking partner, and you can motivate one another to get fit.

Recent studies by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention show that pet obesity is climbing every year.  Over 50% of our pets are overweight or obese.  We need to be responsible stewards for our pets and help them trim off those extra pounds. Overweight dogs are susceptible to many medical conditions. It is not a question of if your dog will get sick due to extra weight, but a question of when.  Common medical issues in over weight pets are diabetes, heart disease, respiratory issues, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, and some cancers. This picture to the right will help to give an idea of your dog's current body condition.

It happens every time the Holidays roll around -- people decide to give pets as gifts.  But is it a wise choice?  When I was in 3^rd grade I hounded my parents to let me get a pet.  They finally relented after months of nagging and there he was one day, my holiday present, “Tiger”.  He really was “my cat” and I even took him with me when I moved out of the dorm in college, but you can be sure my parents were responsible for a great deal of the care from the time I was 7 until I was 19.

Tiger lived with me for 7 more years after college, but not all pets given as gifts have the same happy story.  Owning a pet is a significant commitment, and like any major decision, it’s wise to consider all the factors before proceeding.  If you’re considering giving a pet as a gift, here are some suggestions to help you avoid problems:

The FDA has recently released a warning about chicken strip dog treats.  These are often called chicken tenders, chicken jerky, and chicken strips.  There has been an increase in the complaints of illness associated with these treats. Cases seen have caused severe to fatal illness in dogs. Symptoms to look for include: 

• Decreased appetite
• Decreased activity
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea (sometimes with blood)
• Increased water consumption
• Increased urination

Read more here on the FDA website.

I have been training dogs for over 20 years. I have had the chance to witness firsthand that people have such an incredible bond with animals and we suffer so much with their loss.  Every so often I have a chance to hear a story of how I have impacted someone’s life, and here is one of those stories.

Years ago, I trained dogs for a woman to help her fosters so they would fit in better to their forever homes.  I got a call the other day from Jerry D., a man who had adopted one of those dogs.  He began to reminisce about how much I resisted letting him take Zeke the day he came to adopt him from us.  The call went something like this:

A week into training has made a huge difference with Lilu.  She has warmed up to us and is doing great in her lessons.  It was important to incorporate fun and play into her training because she was so fearful at first.  No more punishment for Lilu, just positive reinforcement. As you can she has really blossomed at "I Said Sit!".