Camp Waggin' Tails

When choosing a dog training school, finding one that branches out into different activities is especially nice. Caninestein's Camp Waggin' Tails partners with J9's K9s Dog Training in Canoga Park, CA to offer fun, weekend-long training field trips to Big Bear Lake in the summer. It's three days of friends, fun and fur as both two- and four-legged campers have a camptastic good time!

Picking a Dog Training School

There's lots to consider when choosing a trainer and it's important to do your homework ahead of time. Training, most of all, is about building a relationship with your dog. Fortunately, dog training has come a long way since the days of alpha rolls and scruff shakes, and the best dog training schools will help make training fun for you AND your dog.

Agility Fun

Agility is a fun dog sport and a great way to spend time with your dog. It's easy to get started; you can even use common items found around the house!

Teaching "Off"

Dogs enjoy creature comforts just like we do, and many dogs can be found happily lounging on the sofa. There's nothing inherently wrong with allowing your dog on the furniture, so long as he's willing to remove himself when you ask. Teaching "off" is a great way to accomplish this. Also, it's important that if your dog is allowed on furniture, should an occasion arise where you'd rather he *not* be up there, it's up to the humans to manage his behavior. No fair getting mad at the dog one time for doing something he's been *allowed* to do 50 other times!

Teaching Drop It

Teaching your dog to let go of what's in his mouth is an important and potentially life-saving skill. Executing a trade - a treat for what he has - is an easy and non-confrontational way to teach a strong "drop it." Over time, the dog learns to reliably perform the behavior without the treat, so long as owners are consistent with praise and petting and remember to toss in a treat every now and then.

Using Tug Games in Training

Playing tug is a great cooperative activity between dog and owner and the game can also be used to help teach focus around distractions and self-control on the part of the dog. Left unchecked, it can sometimes lead to over-excitement, so it's important to play by a few simple rules.

Canine Self Employment

Teaching your dog to "sit quiet and color" can go a long way toward preventing attention-seeking, destruction and other unwanted behaviors around the house. Today's dog owners have a variety of food puzzle toys to choose from, and they are a great tool to keep in your training tool box.

More on Coming When Called - Leaving Distractions!

Perhaps the biggest hurdle in recall training is teaching a dog to leave a distraction when called. A dog’s willingness to do so is what makes or breaks an effective recall. When a dog is loose or otherwise off-leash, he’s going to be distracted. Therefore, it’s important to convince him that it’s always best to leave distractions and come when we call -- no matter how enticing the distraction! A tall order? Sure. Impossible? Not at all. Find out how in part two of an article on teaching your dog to come when called.