PupStart is hard to get into, we know! The Covid Pandemic has flooded the world with our favorite little beings and each one would greatly benefit from attending the amazing PupStart Program. Because we are a small program, we are booking out several months in advance. This means by the time a new puppy owner decides to look into enrolling her puppy into PupStart, she can't get in for at least month and sometimes longer.
Love at First Sight....
...or maybe not?
Congratulations! You’ve added a new canine member to your family!
The Importance of Learning Boundaries
Let's get rid of the term, "socialization."
“Sociallzation.” It sounds lovely, doesn’t it? When humans talk of socializing with each other, it carries a connotation of “party” or at the very least icing on the cake of the day-to-day routine. “Socializing” when referring to puppy development is, however, so crucial to their long-term well-being that it should be renamed “survival training.”
Unsocialized or improperly socialized dogs tend to be fearful. Fear is the primary cause of aggression. Aggressive dogs have a hard time thriving in human society. It’s plain and simple.
Sarah earns her dog training certification!
The Language and Culture Gap
I graduated from college with a degree in “Language and Culture.” Yep, it was one of “those” liberal arts degrees that can lead to… what, exactly? Though I tried to convince her, my mom could never quite grasp the connection between my degree and dog training. My career is actually a product of that education - with help from a zigzagging progression and convergence of experiences and life choices.
Harness the Power!
We share a serious obsession with our canine friends: a passion for flying round objects. Balls. Balls of all sizes and colors and textures incite incredible excitement from both species.
The Miracle of a Stationary Dog
Learning Games Rock!
Dogs are a “neotenous” species; juvenile traits persist throughout their lives, unlike most other mammals. They don’t care about “working” or personal responsibility – they just wanna have fun!
Do you have a good Recipe for Success?
I love to eat and to cook, so it’s natural for me to love to use food analogies when it comes to training dogs.
Are you SURE you are ready?
Useful? or not?
The next time you use voice navigation, imagine Siri telling you where NOT to turn, what street NOT to take, and to boot, she uses an accusatory tone with you. There you are, driving through a big, busy and unfamiliar city. You are a bit nervous, not sure how to get to your destination and Siri tells you things like, “No! Don’t turn there!” “Not that street!” “Not the next one, either!” Absent is all the information on which street to look for, how far away it is, which way you’ll be turning, etc. In other words, everything you need is missing.
Dogs' Best Friends are Often not Dogs
Time to get into shape!
Proper stretching, movement, and body awareness contribute to overall good health whether we're dog or human. Don’t wait for your dog to be injured before you teach him some beneficial “doga poses” – start now!
Here are two of my favorite “tricks” that carry with them some whopping physical benefits:
“Who’s your queen?”
What's up with that?
The cashier overheard a conversation I was having with the person behind me and gleaned that I was a dog trainer. She motioned me closer and said, under her smoky breath and with a snicker and a slight air of superiority, “My two rescue dogs didn’t need training. They came fully trained.” What could I say, but “um, that’s very nice. You are lucky.”
What's the Big Deal?
They race through them to go out, whether it’s the front door, the car door, the crate door or… well, pretty much any door. When someone comes through a door, all hell can break loose! Dogs can transform themselves from a lazy lump on the floor to a jumping, lunging, growling, barking, nipping, spinning, pacing crazy thing in two seconds flat. Why?
Portals to the World
How can this be possible?
Clicker training establishes a rock-solid line of communication based on simple cause and effect. The clicker – a small mechanical device - makes a sound that “marks” a behavior (the cause) and tells the animal precisely what he’s about to be “paid” for. The reward (the effect) that quickly follows strengthens the behavior, making the animal want to repeat it to get another click and reward.
Help your puppy learn "Survival Skills" instead.
“Sociallzation.” It sounds lovely, doesn’t it? When humans talk of socializing with each other, it carries a connotation of “party” or at the very least icing on the cake of the day-to-day routine. “Socializing,” when referring to puppy development is, however, so crucial to their long-term well-being that it should be renamed “survival training."
Scientific Truth
Are you and your house ready to bring that puppy home?
An in-depth guide for people planning to add (or who have recently added) a new puppy (or dog) to their household.
"Don't Blame the Dog for Failing to Live up to Human Expectations." Chris Bach
