Godiva, a 10 month old Pocket Beagle, is one of the most adaptable dogs I know. One of the biggest keys to a well balanced dog is getting clear direction in combination with exposure to as many people, dogs, places, and things as possible.

Godiva has a serious head start compared to most puppies her age. She came to her San Diego Dog Training Camp this time to move her along in her quest to be an excellent therapy dog and she proved to be one of the best candidates ever to sign up.

She traveled to That’s My Dog located in Wisconsin to assist me with our Advanced Professional Dog Trainers Business & Personal Development Course as well as E Palooza in it’s 5th year hosting professionals bringing fresh ideas to professional dog trainers.

Godiva traveled by plane with me and managed to get even the TSA crew to smile. She was my teaching assistant and sat on her “park it” spot or dog bed while I presented. She was introduced to agility, met the neighborhood cows, went downtown and walked in the distraction of lots of people, dogs and activities. She learned to “stay” in the distraction of about anything and even mastered a few tricks like “give 5” and “play dead”. She’ll rival that dog on the Letterman Show any day of the week!

Sit, stay, a strong recall, and walking nicely on a leash allows a dog like Godiva to go and do just about anything a dog or her family can imagine. She’s ready to go back to her family, soccer games, rides in the car, and much more as well as being the entire family’s best friend.

Godiva went home today from dog training camp after returning to San Diego from our trip to Wisconsin. I miss her terribly. She’s become my little protege and has gone so many places with me its odd not to have her around. Yet, I know back at home with 4 kids and two parents with a very active lifestyle, she’s fallen right into stride and has a fabulous life.

Good girl Godiva… and I look forward to updates of her great life.

For more dog fun dog photos, tips and tricks, and dog news follow us on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/GoTrainYourDog

And for your own dog’s exclusive dog training camp, private training lessons, or online programs contact us at www.SitK9Sit.com

The open field socialization done by Dick Russell was one of the most magnificent demonstrations in the understanding of dog psychology.  Watching dogs walk together in an open field, able to work things out on their own, as dogs is a very calming sight.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Without the human “fear” emotion tied to the leash of dogs… or the emotional leash you share with your dog, they choose to move forward.

A concept we all should think about.  Concentrate on what is good and what you what needs to be done to move forward.. not that the economy is bad.  That kind of thinking soon does come out in the behavior of your dog.  Move forward.  Think forward.  Dogs can teach us a lot of things about letting go of the recent past and focusing on what can be done to choose a better future.

The professional dog trainers came from all of the US as well as Greece to an event and an advanced dog training academy taught by Robin MacFarlane of That’s My Dog, Hazel Green, WI and Jt Clough of K9 Coach, San Diego.  These pro dog trainers have businesses that provide private lessons, group lessons, board & train, and canine boot camps.

The profession of dog training is so much more than just how to get Fiona to sit!  It’s a lot about helping people to have a cohesive family.  To provide the help so that that best friend feeling lives throughout people’s lives on a daily basis.  It’s also about providing a way for dogs to have clear communication so that they live a life that has boundaries as well as a lot of freedoms.

This year’s theme was “Think Outside the Box”.  It was well named as several lessons and exercises that each participant did was like no other dog training presentation before.

One participant from New Jersey wrote us with this quote, “To the Advance E-Cademy – I cannot put into words what those 5 days meant to me and my dog.  It was an enlightening and growth experience on so many levels.  The energy, support and caring of all that participated will stay with me for a very long time.”

We are busy planning next year’s event already.  In the meantime Dog Training Camp goes on here in San Diego, and the Dog Trainers School goes on in Wisconsin.

Jackson has come to Dog Training Camp here in San Diego from his home in Arizona. His family comes here for a few weeks in the summer and since the house they are renting won’t allow dogs (what is wrong with some people!) it was a great time to send him for some much needed in kennel dog training.

This Labradoodle is young, 11 months, and when he first came to dog training camp still had a few potty training issues. He’s all the way through that one though… it is a very simple step by step process. And its one of those that makes people happier than one can even say… when the dog knows to go outside to go to the bathroom.

Everything we teach is laid out so that anyone can understand how to keep their dog in “trained mode”. Dog think differently than we do. But they do think in a way that is simple to teach.. and in the long run can teach us as humans to be much better people in our own minds!

We’ll be talking more about Jackson and how he’s learned such great things at dog training camp on our live webcast. Come join us. Love to answer your questions…. and the truth is we developed this new training dvd and membership training area so that all of those people who aren’t in the San Diego area, or who don’t have the option of our exclusive camps, can get the same training for your dog, with the same great trainers.

Live Webcast Sunday, July 27. 3 pm Pacific, 5 pm Central, 6 pm Eastern.
www. GoTrainYourDog.com

Rasta and Puka are Labrador Border Collie mixes who have come to our San Diego Dog Training Camp for the same reasons many dogs need training… for urban living. They tend to bark too much for the neighbors liking, jump up on you as a greeting, and pull your arm off on a leash!

These two siblings are still young, 18 months old so they have a lot of energy… and being siblings they tend to play off of one another. Puka is the one appears to be the “pleaser”, yet truly she is looking for safety. She tends to jump up or paw for attention… a lot. When in a situation that she’s not sure about she will cling to you.

Rasta is more of the aggressor of the two. She will step out and do her own thing as well as show a much stronger will when she wants her way. At least she did when she didn’t have a clear set of rules to follow.

The interesting thing in training these two types is that Rasta the stronger of the two is easier to come around to things. It simply that she has more confidence to start with. Puka being unsure of things will tend to run or duck away or cling to you.

In both cases leadership and communication so they can understand in dog terms is required. It’s a matter of getting their attention and then showing them the correct picture every time. Puka for instance has to learn to sit in front of people instead of jump and paw at them… it’s what we’ve been working on and she’s coming along well. She even automatically starts a sit at doorways since that’s the rule around here. No just running out the door. Sit, then get the ok to go out.

Rasta is doing excellent at that type of behavior. She is working on recall in big distraction already and she is doing great with that. She quickly has caught onto sitting for attention. She isn’t such a clinger so it was easier for her to grasp.

As with most dogs, Puka and Rasta need exercise, and due to their breed, really the more they get the better they are. They have learned to not pull on a leash in the last few days so getting them out for exercise is a much easier endeavor!

They are doing great. It’s just practice, practice, practice. Practice does make permanent. K9 Coach of Encinitas, San Diego, and Temecula believes in teaching a strong recall, a lot of exercise, and practicing good dog manners every day!

Diesel, a Min Pin who came to Dog Training Camp through our Temecula location was able to get some training tips by Robin, the owner of the professional dog trainers school, That’s My Dog, located in Hazel Green, WI

Teaching people to read a dog’s signs of behavior is important in the case where a dog has had issues with other dogs and people. Many of the signs are evident in a dog like Diesel who at one point in his life was attached by another dog and severely injured way before he actually displays the unwanted behavior. Reading his behavior helps redirect it to what he should be doing before he goes into that state of fear.

His training has taken him a long way in his ability to trust other dogs that come near as well as how to deal with people. There is a certain amount of introducing the situations to him in a new way and getting Diesel to the point that he knows enough obedience that he can be brought back to doing his newly learned behavior or commands. This will in turn allow him to feel safe in his surroundings with a leader who will protect him but who will also have him follow through with his end of the deal. That being preform the command or task he was asked to do.

Learning to read his body language and then projecting what he should be doing BEFORE the scenario takes him to a place he doesn’t need to be is key. K9 Coach Dog Training Camps teach your dog the correct behavior and how to learn to become confident. Then its a matter of continuing to practice those behaviors. Practice does make permanent.

He became boss of the house. Just did sort of what ever he wanted to, cute as he is…. even so far as to chase children from his spot on the sofa. Diesel had developed some atrocious manners and was out of control. His owner knew it and loves him so much she has come to K9 Coach for help and Diesel is so much happier for it and very glad he came to Dog Training Camp. He lives in San Diego but is at our Temecula location. We are happy to travel as we have one trainer who is very good with small dogs, and one who is very good with big dogs at each location.

Diesel is learning how to behave much better around other dogs as you can see in this short clip of training sessions with Spencer. Way to go Spencer you are such a good dog!

Exercise, mental challenges and affection as a reward are a part of Diesel’s rehabilitation. He is doing a great job and improved his manners around other dogs and people. He has not had one accident on his potty training! Obedience is hugely rewarded and the Min Pin is responding very well.

Way to go Diesel.

Check out Zane. He’s the Boxer that came with a social component disconnect in his behavior towards other dogs! He’d see a dog and lunge. Not to mention he gets easily distracted!

Through exercise and working with understanding clearly what action goes with what word, like sit, come, let’s go, heal, down, and stay; he’s now doing great in distraction as well as he can walk past another dog and stay on task.

Zane is a dog with huge energy so the added exercise has really taken the edge off for him. It helps his concentration level to a degree that would be hard to attain without it. K9 Coach recommends exercise for any dog and well as for the owner. It’s super good for both parties but there are times where a dog has soooo much energy there is no way the owner will get out that much with him.

The answer.

A treadmill. Zane has learned to walk on a treadmill with no leash, no collar or anything in a just a short couple of days. He actually has spring in his step and enjoys it. Keep in mind that this does not replace outdoor exercise. Part of the daily training for any dog should be outdoor activity; the walk, the jog, the run with his owner. It’s a time that training really sets in. It’s a time of bonding on a daily basis.

Dog training is really about spending quality time with your dog. It’s about providing that direction that allows you to be the leader. Your dog will only be more loyal for the chance to have a lifelong position and job with you!

Dog Training Camps in San Diego and Temecula, CA provide that private instruction that will last a lifetime. K9 Coach specializes in training the high energy, wild child dog. Solving that love/hate relationship for an owner is a huge satisfaction for everyone involved.

The difference in the dog that walks beside you, who comes when called when off leash and sits when meeting new people from the wild out of control dog gives that joy in the relationship everyone desires! Even your dog!

The key to training your dog is by teaching the last step of whatever it is you want your dog to do first! I know that sounds a little backwards, but dogs do learn in pictures. They don’t logic.

So where to start?

Lets use the example of having your dog come to you and sit in front of you. Most people would automatically try to call the dog to them and then ask the dog to sit. Right?

Wrong.

Why? Because I want to be able to reward the dog most times for the end result. So, if I teach my dog to sit in front of me and reward many times for that, then have my dog somewhere away from me and ask them to come and sit, the chances are they will get it. They know the last step well!

If you try to teach you dog to come and then sit, the chances your dog will come to are iffy at best! And then you have the task of teaching the sit in front of you.

On the other hand, if you have had your dog sit in front of you and you’ve reward over and over for that, when your dog is away from you (and start with a short distance) you can then say “come”, and chain it together with “sit”. Your dog has been rewarded many times for that and so the chances they are going to come and do the sit in front of you which is well known are much higher!

Cool huh!

Stay tuned for more training tips. A trained dog is a happy dog.

Check out our website for more info on private training camps, interactive online training, and more info on our dog trainers school for those who would like to get a new career in dog training.

Professional dog training is not only rewarding its can be a business that you own that is successful financially as well.

Robin MacFarlane of Thats My Dog, Inc teaches most of her immersion professional dog trainer courses from her Wisconsin location. For fun this year she’s decided to come on out to San Diego in March and provide the same great school, with warmer temperatures than you’ll find in Wisconsin!

For anyone thinking about a career in dogs this is the course to come to. Not only will you get the foundation of how to become a professional dog trainer, but Jt Clough of K9 Coach is hosting the school. Jt not only is a professional dog trainer herself, but specializes in how to run the business end of dog training.

You’ll get the benefit of both technique and business at this course.

To find out more go to That’s My Dog or call 866-DOG-LADY. We’ll send you a DVD and answer all your questions no.

Don’t miss this course March 14-18, 2008 in San Diego, CA

Thats My Dog also has a location in Chicago, IL