I giggle when I look back at my dog training videos and my articles because to me EVERYTHING is critical!  Teaching your dog to leave it, crate training, leash training everything is vital to you and your dog.  And, to be honest, it really is.  All dog training and the victory over behavior problems ensures that you keep your dog and that you both remain happy.

BUT, the #1 most important obedience command for EVERY dog is the recall or come command.

Does Your Dog Come When Called?

So what happens if your dog is off leash, he sees a bunny or a deer and goes chasing after it?  Will he leave that distraction and come to you when you call him?  What if there is a car coming?

Recently a good friend lost his world champion obedience dog because he was chasing deer and blindsided by a car.  I am still devastated for them both.  It can certainly happen to anyone who’s dog is off leash, and I can only hope and train hard and pray it never happens to me or my dogs.

What Can You Do?

Are you FUN to Come to?

You HAVE to train, train, train for a good recall!  This is not something to let slack or ignore, this is THE MOST IMPORTANT thing you will ever do!  Your dog’s life may sometime depend on this exact command!

NEVER, ever call your dog when he is in trouble, your mad or if you are going to do something bad to him!  His name and the word “come” should never mean something bad.  So if he is in trouble go and get him.  If you are going to crate him or trim his nails, go to him, but do not call him.

You never want your dog’s name or come to = something bad or even slightly negative.  Imagine your dog and the bunnies…if “COME” means sometimes he goes in his crate, then there is NO WAY he is leaving those bunnies to come to you!

Would you come to YOU if you were mad or sounded that angry?

The word COME should equal FUN, FOOD, and PARTIES!

Does your dog drop everything and run to you when he hears the cookie jar rattle?  When you whisper “cookie” would he wake up from a dead sleep to rush to your side?  Why is it that he listens so well to the rattle of the treat bag or a word that means treat?

Because with 100% reliability you are going to give him a treat!  How often do you get into the dog biscuits but then don’t give him one?  Or ask him if he wants a cookie only to give him nothing?  Chances are you don’t.  Chances are you reward him and so he is familiar with the reward that is tied to the sound or the word.  If these things were not paired with something good or a treat, he would stop coming and they would stop being meaningful cues.

You must make sure that your command to “come” = something meaningful and good almost 100%  of the time!

Pair the word come with treats, with games and with jackpots of chicken breast and other wonderful things.  Don’t call your dog and then take for granted the fact that he actually came to you.  And, just know that your praise is never going to be as exciting or as motivating as a scuttling or taunting squirrel.  However the knowledge that FOR SURE you are going to be rewarded and you might get some chicken breast is often worth the gamble for your dog!

Being Fun and Training Equals a Fast Recall!

Look at it from his perspective and stop comparing him to “Lassie”.  Dogs want to fulfill their own needs, what is important is to pair what he likes with what you want!

My favorite way to teach my dog to come is to play hide and seek at home.  Games are FUN!  I don’t care if you are 80 or 20 or if you do or don’t have kids at home.  You need to PLAY with your dog in order to teach him you are fun!  Just like you play with your children or grandchildren; sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone because it is important for the dog or the child!

Have someone (your spouse, friend or your child) hold your dog’s collar as you tease him with some treats and dash away to hide.  First hide in easy to find places and as he gets better you can truly “hide” and make him find you behind doors, in his crate or other silly places.  As you call him praise him, this is critical even though you can’t see him coming you must assume that he is scampering after you so continue your praise.

“Fury COME, good girl, good girl, Come, good girl” until she gets to me.

“Fury COME!”  just isn’t motivating or exciting and she is likely to get bored and stop coming.  I have to motivate her to me and make it FUN!  The teasing and dashing is also important.  Just showing your dog a treat and sauntering off, is boring.

Which would you prefer?  Now which would you prefer if you were 5?  Remember your dog has the mentality of a child and needs fun and games!

Once he is finding you with exhilarating excitement in your home, all over your home, in funny places (yes I think dogs have a sense of humor), it is time to move this game outside.

Get a long line of 25 or 50 feet and play the same game; dashing behind trees and bushes.  Hide up inside trees or underneath things like your car; make this game the most fun thing your dog has ever done!    This imprinting of FUN, FUN, FUN along with reliable treats means your dog will be more likely to automatically leave the bunny, squirrel or deer to rush to your side when you call him!

It isn’t enough to teach this or play this once or twice, you MUST continue to play this game throughout your dog’s life.  Once it is imprinted and he is enjoying it, you can play it less but play it occasionally to keep it sharp and reliable.  If you notice him not coming to you when called go back to making it FUN and playing!

What Notto Do?

Don't Call Him if He won't Come!

Don’t call your dog when he is in trouble or you’re going to do something negative to him.  I know I said it before but it begs to be repeated!  This will RUIN this command’s reliability!

Don’t be boring!  If you are boring your dog is less likely to listen!!  Dogs often mirror our behavior so the more excited and animated you are the more likely your dog will be to listen and enjoy himself.  Even if it is out of your comfort zone, get animated and have fun!

NEVER, EVER call your dog if you think he won’t come and you have no physical control of him (unless it is an emergency).

If your dog ignores you don’t give him the opportunity to ignore your commands!  This goes for any command but especially the COME command.  If your dog ignores you and doesn’t come, this means the command means NOTHING to your dog and nothing happens to him to make him come.

The more often you call him and he ignores you, the more the command loses its meaning and the less likely he is to ever come.

Instead, put him on a leash and work on the command by playing games OR at least put him on a leash so that if he ignores you, you can then make him listen by reeling him in!

You may have to slowly work on the command so that he listens off leash in a safe area like your yard, or a fenced in area.  When he doesn’t listen go to him, clip on the leash and encourage him to listen to you by restricting his ability to run away and by encouraging him with treats, toys and fun.

It is much easier to teach him this is fun, than to rely on force!

As always have as much fun as possible, this is what bonds you to your dog and your dog to you!  But work hard so that, if that moment comes and your dog’s life hangs in the balance he has a desire to play and to please you and leave any distraction behind!

Teaching Your Dog to Come When Called, No Matter What! is a post from: Dog Obedience Training Blog

Join Me On Your Favorite Social Networking Site!

Hello everyone!  We are going viral…no, no that doesn’t mean I have a virus, thankfully I kicked that bug a few weeks ago, we are taking our information and knowledge to share on Facebook and Twitter!

I know what you are thinking, you have a busy life and even if you are already have an account with Facebook and Twitter you are wondering if you have the time to add something else to your plate and your life.  I completely understand!  I feel the same way every time I click “Like” on my facebook page.  I make a concerted effort not to add anything I am not truly passionate about on my page.

But I am here to convince you to join me!  Not only will all of our new articles and services be added immediately to our account, but I will also be adding fun facts, services, and new and upcoming items to our pages!

Today, for instance, I added a link to get free pet supplies!  Who doesn’t like free stuff?  Some of the things offered are coupons to get money off items you are probably already purchasing and some offer free treats and items to the first 150 people!

Yesterday, I posted a link to one of my favorite videos a Man vs. Dog eating contest!  I simply love this video, it brings a giggle and a smile to my face every time I watch it.

I will be posting news articles, rescue information, articles, pictures and cool doggy supplies on our pages!  It is my desire to find the coolest stuff and share it with you!  I also encourage you to join me and send me links you would like to share and leave questions and comments for me.

I will do my best to answer your questions and give you the best, and the most fun information I can!  My passion in this life is to truly enjoy the time I spend with my family and my dogs!

So PLEASE join me, so I am not Tweeting and Facebooking to myself!  Share the links and encourage your friends and family to join us!

Join Our Facebook Page!

Follow Us On Twitter!

I look forward to building a more personal relationship with you and finding the coolest dog stuff around!

We Are Going Viral! is a post from: Dog Obedience Training Blog

courtesy of www.dogjaunt.com, Mary-Alice's dog, Chloe

Take a peek at a book review on Wendy Diamond’s book, “It’s a Dog’s World.”

It’s A Dog’s World: The Savvy Guide to Four-Legged Living

posted by Mary-Alice Pomputius, www.dogjaunt.com, 2/23/10

Somehow I got the (mistaken) idea that this new book by pet-lifestyle expert and animal rights advocate Wendy Diamond is all about traveling with your dog, so of course I snapped it up to review for you. It turns out that only Chapter 3 deals with dog travel — but it’s a useful, inspiring chapter, and I’m not a bit unhappy.

Generally speaking, It’s a Dog’s World is an upbeat book encouraging you to get off your duff and enjoy your dog’s company. Diamond suggests fun exercise alternatives and nudges you towards feeding your dog healthy meals, furnishing your home in a way both of you will enjoy, and choosing a healthy and sensible grooming routine. She devotes one chapter to pet-themed party-planning, another to doggy fashion, and a third — bless her heart — to traveling with your dog.

Read the rest of Mary-Alice’s review.

Book Review: “It’s a Dog’s World” is a post from: Dog Obedience Training Blog

Sadly, I think we’ve come to a place where we can’t always trust our Veterinarians to always have our dog’s best interest in mind.  And this Veterinary Secrets Revealed program is one of those tools that can arm you with information that allows you to ask your vet some tough questions, and at least make them explain their recommendations to you instead of just having to take their advice blindly and hope they really have your best interest at heart.

This course has already saved me money by giving me the confidence to say “NO” to some of my vets recommendations, and I believe, will increase the quality of my dog’s life.

If Healing Your Pet at home, instead of always resorting to a Veterinarian interests you, here’s the link to this new program: http://www.veterinarysecretsrevealed.com/course/

So Dr. Andrew Jones, if you ever happen to stumble across my blog and read this post, I’ve shot a short little video for you below as my way of saying, “Thank You” for creating your Veterinary Secrets Revealed home study program… and keep up the good work!

A Thank You Message To Andrew Jones Himself

Review Of Andrew Jones Veterinary Secrets Revealed Home Study Course is a post from: Dog Obedience Training Blog

Getting their backs scratched… Pet-friendly Hotels… Sleeping under the Christmas tree…

These are just a few of the 500 Things That Make Dogs Happy. Jennifer Nicole Cox has compiled a list of many of the events, toys, and activities that dogs love about being a dog. Juston Harrison’s illustrations create a fun way to explore the various experiences and treats that dogs enjoy.

This guide to everything that makes a dog happy is required and inspired reading for anyone who has ever been, is now or ever will be owned by a dog.

This book will make a great Christmas gift for the dog lover in your life! The illustrations are wonderful, great for children and adults alike. A great gift or stocking stuffer, get it while you can. 500 Things That Make Dogs Happy is going fast! Since the debut, it has already sold out on Amazon once.

If you would like to order this book, here is the link to it through Amazon.com: 500 Things That Make Dogs Happy

Article Source www.examiner.com

500 Things That Make Dogs Happy By Jennifer Nicole is a post from: Dog Obedience Training Blog

Review of ZenDOG: Music and Massage for a Stress-Free Pet by Janet Marlow is a post from: Dog Obedience Training Blog

If you’re thinking about picking up a copy of Leslie McDevitt’s book, “Conrol Unleashed” I thought you might want to know what I thought of her book…

Simply put, if you have a dog who does not ALWAYS obey you, Control Unleashed gives you REAL, strategies for getting your dog to focus and obey in situations where he normally might fly off his hinges, get overly excited or is simply uncontrollable.

The training strategies, or what she calls, “Games”, are unique, and easy to use… and you certainly won’t find them in any other of the top 10 books on dog training at Amazon or your local book store.  I personally found her “Look at That” game a simple to teach game that really helped my own dog to remain much more calm when out and about in public places — even when aggressive dogs violently lunge at him through fences on walks.

I recommend Control Unleashed to EVERY dog owner I talk to!

However, I thought you should know what this book WON’T teach you…

Control Unleashed does not go into detail on how to teach your dog basic obedience skills (which is fine ‘cuz it never claims to be that kind of book). Instead it does what no other books talk about and shows you what to do IMMEDIATELY after you’ve trained your dog basic obedience skills — so you don’t end up with a dog that KNOWS basic obedience commands but never feels like obeying them

So when you pick up the book, don’t expect to find tips on puppy potty training or how to stop leash pulling — it’s NOT that kind of book.

If you’re looking for beginner training tips you might want to first pick up another basic obedience course, like my “Hands Off Dog Training” program for example… teach your dog the basic obedience skills, and THEN go through Leslie McDevitt’s Control Unleashed book to give you that Dream Dog you’ve always wanted.

But if you’re NOT a beginner… just do yourself a favor and pick up the book & DVD she offers immediately.

Leslie wrote Control Unleashed to help her advanced students with having more control for agility, and sport competitions.  So the dogs would be less nervous and more responsive while doing competitions, and gives PLENTY of examples that will satisfy even the most advanced dog trainers appetite for knowledge.

So do your self a HUGE favor and  Buy Control Unleashed today — you won’t be sorry!

You can buy Control Unleashed by visiting ClickerTraining.com and browsing through their dog training book section.

Click here to by Control Unleashed Today — you won’t be sorry!

If you’ve already read the book, please leave a comment on this post so that others can get a better feel for if this book can help them with their dog or not.

Control Unleashed: What I Think Of This Book is a post from: Dog Obedience Training Blog