hawaii dog trainer – Page 4 – A to Z Dog Training

The Expectation Game

In our ongoing adventure of companionship with dogs nothing trips us up quite as much as our own unrealistic expectations. Dogs who don’t do as they are told? We think them willfully disobedient, stubborn, or, worst of all, slow on the uptake. We overestimate their attention span and level of emotional control. We think they should know instinctively how to navigate big groups of dogs playing together. We expect them to quickly grasp concepts we deem important and logical for dogs, such as going to the bathroom outside (except when it’s OK not to, like at daycare). Unless a good dog trainer sets us straight, we may even expect angelic behavior after completing a single 6-week training class. Our high and often naive expectations cause us grief and worry, so why are they so hard to shake? Blame culture, for one thing. Books and movies that portray dogs as highly

Tammy Nunes September 26, 2014 No Comments

Sibling Rivalry

All dogs squabble occasionally. Dogs who live together mostly get into scraps over stuff they both want: Food, bones, toys, human attention, and sleeping spots. Like us, they have individual preferences and moods, and might be having a grumpy day or a headache. If the fights don’t result in injuries (i.e. you’re not at the vet’s following each fight having one or both dogs sutured), you have a number of options. Fights often happen as a result of a particular situation and if you can uncover the triggers through a little detective work, you can prevent most altercations. Trigger: Who is this new dog in my house? Remedy: Supervise your new dog closely for several days, especially when he interacts with your other dog. Praise your dogs for polite behavior. Trigger: My sister is too close while I eat! Remedy: Feed your dogs in separate bowls at opposite

Tammy Nunes September 26, 2014 No Comments

Beat The Heat

The warmest months in Hawaii are vastly upon us with temperatures reaching over 80F degrees and over 50 percent humidity. Humans have the ability to regulate their body temperature by sweat glands located throughout our bodies. When we sweat the evaporation of our sweat cools our body. Unlike humans, dogs’ do not have sweat glands located throughout their body. A dog’s sweat glands are mainly located between the pads of their feet. A dogs’ primary way of cooling themselves is by panting and breathing. Ways to beat the heat this summer. Always provide shade and fresh cool water for your dogs. Provide a small plastic pool for your dog to wade or lay in during the day. Keep the pool in the shade so the sun does not heat the water. Remember to rinse the pool daily to keep clean. You can find cooling products for dogs such as bandanas, vests,

Tammy Nunes June 30, 2014 No Comments

Canine Evolution, How It Effects Your Dogs Behavior – Part 2

I feel many times we take for granted that our 4 legged friends are animals that have been domesticated and integrated into our lives over the past 130,000 years. (Evolution of the Dog, 2001) We take for granted that these once wild animals are now cuddling in our laps or assisting us in our daily lives. We at times, get upset when our cuddly friend exhibits behaviors such as nipping or barking even though that is what they are hardwired to do, it’s instinct. When taking a look at the evolution of dogs Darwin speculated that the reason we have such diversity among dogs was due to breeding amongst a variety of wild dogs. Through DNA testing it was found that Darwinwas wrong. Dogs, are direct descendants of the gray wolf. The reason we have such a diverse population of dogs, is due to intense and purposeful interbreeding. The key

Tammy Nunes November 7, 2013 No Comments

Canine Evolution, Recommended Reading

Dogs A New Understanding Of Canine Origin, Behavior, and Evolution By Raymond and Lorna Coppinger Domestic Dog, It’s Evolution, Behavior, and Interactions With People by James Serpell Evolution of Canine Social Behavior, 2nd Edition by Roger Abrantes Dog Behavior, Evolution and Cognition by Adam Miklosi Wolves- Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation by L. David Mech & Luigi Boitani, Editors

Tammy Nunes November 7, 2013 No Comments

Put Your Toys Away

Put Your Toys Away Criteria– Your dog fetches their toys and puts them away. Verbal Que- ‘Put your toys away’ Visual Que- Point to their toy Steps Teach your dog to fetch Stand behind their toy box or the desired object you want them to learn to put their toys in. Toss the toy for your dog, as they are coming back with their toy say ‘put your toy away’. When your dog comes to you trade them a treat for dropping the toy in the toy box Repeat above steps 10 times. When your dog succeeds with the above steps 10 times in a row move to step 6. Place a toy 2 feet away from the toy box. Stand behind the toy box. Point to the toy and say ‘put your toy away’. Reward your dog for putting the toy in the toy box. Repeat step 7, slowly

Tammy Nunes September 2, 2013 No Comments

The Buzz About Reward Based Training

Traditionally dog training was primarily taught through punishment or aversive techniques. Through time, reward based or positive reinforcement training has become more popular. By definition, behaviors that are reinforced will increase. This is true for various species of animals including humans. It’s also true that both desired and undesired behavior can be increase through reinforcement. Positive reinforcement training is adding something to your dogs environment that your dog views as reinforcing. Examples of reinforces for dogs include: verbal praise, treats, toys, play (with the owner or other dogs, or toys), rub downs, a clicker, and more. What your dog perceives as a reinforcer can vary from dog to dog. Many trainers find that food, of various kinds, is a high reinforcer for dogs. This is because food, by nature, is a primary reinforcement, which means your dog needs food to survive. The benefits of reward-based training are numerous. What I

Tammy Nunes April 30, 2011 No Comments

Games to play to STOP problem behaviors

Dogs and humans that play together stay together. Believe it or not, “play” can actually be considered a trainable behavior with dogs. Teaching your fuzzy friend to play with you can help build your relationship, increase trainability, provide mental stimulation and exercise (for both of you), and help to eliminate behavior problems. My training philosophy is to ‘have fun and be consistent’. I like to stress to my students, if you are not having fun your dog will know, and your training sessions will not be as effective. How many of you can tell if someone close to you is frustrated or upset just by their body language? How does it make you feel when you walk into a room and you see someone with ridged body movements or sighing? When I see someone exhibiting frustration or anger my body tenses up, I hold my breath for longer periods of

Tammy Nunes November 24, 2010 No Comments

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