Getting your Therapy Dog Desensitized to Touch
There are lots of things that go into the creation of a successful therapy dog. They must be well-behaved, interested in people, walk well on a loose leash, and most importantly, they must be comfortable with being touched all over their body. People you visit are going to be very excited about petting your dog, so it is important that they don’t avoid touch.
The Engage-Disengage Game: Help for Reactive Dogs
This game is very useful for dogs that are FEARFUL, ANXIOUS, or FRUSTRATED around a specific trigger such as another dog, person, or a sound. The goal is to first decrease the dog’s fear/anxiety/frustration and then to teach the dog a new safe and appropriate behavior to do instead.
Poisoned Cues
In my Family Dog Manners classes, when it's time to teach our dogs to come when called, I ask all of my students to select a NEW cue for "come". Why? Often times, we dog parents have unintentionally "poisoned" the word come. We have made it a dirty word to our dogs by...
In Full Swing!
Fall classes are officially in full swing now! Both levels of therapy dog classes have now met twice, and our Family Dog Manners class has the first class with dogs tonight! It's been a very exciting journey this time around. The last session of classes that Lisa and...
Boone, NC Therapy Dog Training
Registration is NOW OPEN for our Fall 2015 therapy dog classes and Family Dog Manners classes! Therapy Dog Classes There is no greater joy than seeing the benefit your beloved pet can bring to others who need affection, comfort, and love a therapy dog can offer! If...
Preparing for Success: Rewards
One of the most important pieces of Positive, Force-Free training is the REWARDS your dog earns! Before embarking upon the journey of training your dog, you need to first figure out what your dog finds rewarding - what makes them happy. Many people believe that a dog...
Preparing for Success: Environment
One of the keys to being successful in any training endeavor with your dog is preparing for success by taking all variables into consideration before you even get the treats out. There are several things we encourage our students to do before beginning a training...
I did it! Officially a T/O!
So excited to step up to the #BragTable! While checking email on my lunch break I found out I am officially a Tester/Observer for Therapy Dogs, INC! Whoohoo! In November of 2013, I drove 2 hours and 75 miles to the closest Tester/Observer so that my dog ( Knox the...
Refocusing on Training
I'm not sure if it's just me, or if every other person that trains dogs as a hobby or as a profession, but I find that I'm a little lazy when it comes to training my own dog. I spend an average of two hours a week at the Watauga Humane Society working with and...
Positive Loose Leash Walking
Before we start: This blog is outlining loose-leash walking, not heeling. The goal of this exercise is to teach your dog to walk politely by your side without pulling. This is not about competition heeling where your dog's entire focus is on you. In this form of...