Casey a 6 year old chocolate lab is highly intelligent but never was trained properly. Major jumping on people, pulling on lead and barking for attention, etc.

After several training sessions teaching Casey eye contact and attention skills and wanted behavior vs. unwanted behavior in conjunction with formal obedience training, Casey is doing much better for his owner, Abigail. 

Of course, I will be training Casey on a consistent basis over the next several weeks to be sure Casey retains what he is learning.

Henry was brought to me over the holidays to work on his separation anxiety issues. He is a great dog. Loving and caring and very well behaved with his owners present. 

If they leave him, in the house, car, or kennel crate he becomes anxious and begins crying, pacing and becomes destructive. 

Steve the owner contacted me to work with him over the holidays. He had guests coming in and had plans to leave the house to celebrate.

I accepted the challenge. Henry was beside himself the first two days.

After working with him using my techniques to assure him all is well, kenneling him with an older calm Newfoundland, Martha and using eye contact, sit/settle skills, physical and verbal corrections and message therapy he became calmer.

Although not cured, I decided to "bike and trot" him. He needed to burn off excess energy. Of course safety first, I taught him to trot next to my bike in proper position and began with 20 minute sessions.

I noticed after the sessions he was better for a while. Bike and Trot is an important increment to help with Henry's issues.

See Steve's Testimonial.

Working the Sit/Settle with a large unruly dog. I began training Sebastian yesterday.

Sebastian a 4 year old very large chocolate Labrador male was very difficult to sit and settle. He was never trained to behave so this was new to him. This exercise is the foundation for dogs to learn. If they are not attentive then they will not be able to hear or understand commands. Their minds and instincts will be at another place.

As he was jumping up scratching me with his long unclipped nails, just made me more determine to get this boy under control. I tried to keep my elbows locked and my wrists locked as I held on to his collar cupping his muzzle with my hands to try to develop eye contact. As he was out of control I kept working him into a sit position and verbally I corrected him each time he jumped and praise every time I got him to sit. This went on for several minutes as my client watched. I was beginning to get tired. It was very important that I prevailed. 

Finally, Sebastian sat and was settled as I continued to hold him in place rubbing the back of his ears with my index fingers. His eyes became focused on mine as he sat still. Once I felt his body was relaxed I began the next exercise. The Stand/Wait/Sit for adult dogs. 

How to begin: Sit/Settle. Develop Eye Contact and Teach Attention Skills throughout all lessons.Its much easier to train a younger dog or puppy or a dog that is compliant. 

Stand in front of your dog and place both hands under the collar cupping the muzzle so the dog is forced to look at you. Keep your elbows locked and wrists locked especially if your dog is not compliant. If he becomes rambunctious lift the front legs off the floor and then gently place. 

Verbal correction is UH UH or Stop It or Knock It Off, etc. in a firm voice tone and followed by praise in an uplifting voice tone with your index fingers rub behind the ears while holding the collar and say, " Good Boy, or Good Girl, Oh You're so Smart, Nice, etc.

Correct unwanted behavior and Praise wanted behavior, using voice intonation.

Once your dog is under control and attentive begin the obedience exercises. Always go back to Sit/Settle when needed.

Bella was rescued by Halfway Hound of Park Ridge. I began training her yesterday at the Pet Lodge in Park Ridge. Here are the initial steps I took:
Step 1. We began outside in backyard. Introducing myself to her with hugging and petting. 

Step 2. Sit/Settle guiding her to sit position and teaching eye contact, attention skills, how to accept hands on, and to listen to voice intonation for praise. 

Step 3. Continue with Step 2 and began Stand/Wait/Sit exercise. I repeated this several times until she was sure what was expected. I was always using gentle guidance but with firm hands to properly teach.

Step 4. Began walking or heeling. Of course always working on eye contact and attention skills its more difficult to train that while on the move. 

Teach walking in proper position with no pulling, no lagging and no sniffing. Taught her to walk with me on a loose lead. No tight lead walking.

Began walking in a large left rectangle then changed with a right about turn and began walking in a right rectangle.

She was doing so well, began doing large left circles and large right circles. 

Also serpentines and step to the right and lets go exercises.

Then finished the walking with fast pace and slow.

reviewed the Stand/Wait/Sit exercise and ended.

Recap

Bella is a lovely dog and will make a wonderful pet and friend for someone.

She is a little skidish that can be worked on through formal OB training to build confidence.

She also has mild body sensitivity, i believe is genetic. So working slowly not to startle her is recommended. I would recommend for now not to get her too excited. Show always how to behave well.

NO Biting or aggressive issues.

Today Sherman and owner handler Carol Watson of Ramsey, obtained an AKC Canine Good Citizenship and Therapy Dog International Certificates. They have been training with me and I am very proud of this accomplishment. Now Carol and Sherman will be able to make visits to hospitals and nursing homes in the area bringing joy and happiness to all that meet him. See a picture of Sherman in the photo gallery. 

Buck is progressing well. On the Come When Called exercise he responds well to his name and comes to the caller fast, the problem, Buck will run past the caller. We began to call at a close distance. 2-3 feet. This way we are focusing on the sit/front. 
Buck is in seated position and attentive. He is told to wait. The owner steps out with her right leg about 2-3 feet in front of Buck. When ready Jennifer calls out Bucks name, then quick the command Come. Jennifer steps back several steps. She has time to take the collar under the muzzle and say Sit/front left hand on the rear. Buck's head is up developing eye contact and Jennifer praises Buck. The short recall distance teaches Buck to come directly to and sit. He does not have the opportunity to run by. Use the lead to guide.

Also today we began to teach Buck the take hold and give with the training bell. Buck is in seated position, holding the bell with the right hand, say "Take It" if he opens his mouth that is great, if not just open his mouth and insert the bell dowel behind the canines. Then say "Hold" and praise. Each time you say HOLD place one hand on top of the muzzle and the other below and gently press. Each time you praise release the muzzle. Be careful the dog does not drop it. Keep the head up and the dog must be attentive and settled. If the dog drops it just say AH AH and simply begin again. After several times saying HOLD command "Give". Then gently the the ends of the bell and gently take it. Then Praise. Repeat many times.

Both are coming along nicely. Training is key between lessons. Even if it is only for 10 minutes. Any review of the lessons is better than none.

Proper heeling or controlled walking is still a challenge better when there are no or limited distractions. Continue to teach proper position, walking on a loose lead, correcting faults with lead, give voice praise and encouragement.

L pattern train for consistency in heeling, teaching circles, turns and when halting sits. Work on eye contact and attention skills. Its work.

Come When Called was reviewed. We want our dogs to be responsive to their names, come directly to you and sit in front to accept praise. Working on lead teaching them to sit/wait, then call out their name. If they do not respond gently pull on lead to teach proper response then hand signal and Come Command and guide them into a sit/front and praise. 

Also began reverse recall with Neo and Come Forths.

Reivew Down/Wait/Sit ( began sit signal with Neo) and Stand/Wait/Sit 

Took Maxine (Boxer) and for the first time she placed her front legs up on my van to get into her kennel. As I placed her in she seemed fine. Her ride to Ramsey town was great. She laid and was relaxed. Usually, she would have been apprehensive. 

I walked her through the town of Ramsey and implemented formal obedience training skills during her walk. She sat an accepted praise and petting from some youngsters. She handled the noises and area fine. 

She is on her way being more confident away from her owner Michael and Judy. Good lesson!

Maxine is attached to her owner Mike. We are working on separation anxiety issue today. She was outside by her bed and Mike and I were inside talking. Maxine could see us and of course she began to get upset and started barking. I opened the slider door and verbally corrected her , went to her and got her to sit/settle, holding her head and looked in at her as if to say all is fine. Be confident. 

I began heeling with him and he did nicely. At times he looked like a little show dog. Every time he forges or faults gently correct him with the lead and praise with uplifting voice tone to get his attention back to business. Pat the side of your leg to teach proper position. When he is too silly just sit and settle and begin again. Right turns and Right about turns are more difficult because you are walking away from the dog. So we need to teach him to bend to us as we make the right. Attention is so important.