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Here a few tips about setting boundaries for your canine friends.
For your dogs to know what is expected of them, you need to set boundaries. Dogs want to have a job, to know what to do; that’s something that they’ve all been bred to do in one way or another. When you set proper boundaries for them, you’re just giving them the tools to be successful. "Setting boundaries is a way to make life in your home safer and more harmonious for your furry friend." Setting good boundaries for your dog includes things like training them to behave when entering and exiting the house, car, or when going out into the street—things that both keep them safe and control their level of excitement. Crate training helps here, too. If a dog leaves the house excited, chances are your walk is going to be 10 times harder. When you’re getting ready for a walk, car trip, or even to just go outside, start with your dog in the crate and then close the door while you get their leash, etc., ready. Then ask them to come out so they have to wait to prepare for their walk. When you get to the door, have the dog sit, and be sure to make eye contact before saying, “Let’s go.” You should also set boundaries for your personal space; you don’t want a dog to constantly come over to you to beg for affection, which can eventually translate into separation anxiety. Train your dog to be comfortable sitting in the corner, and to only come to you when you invite them. This also applies to cars and houses; you don’t want the dog to jump out of the car and into the street or run out the door to attack another dog or person. When dogs don’t know what is expected of them, they tend to get very anxious because they’re not being stimulated enough. Setting boundaries is a way to make life in your home safer and more harmonious for your furry friend. If you have any questions about setting boundaries with dogs, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at The Zoomies Dog Walking. We’d love to help you.
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Here’s how to teach your dog the place command for when you’re busy.
Today I have Bear and Ziggy with me to teach you how to do the “place” command with your dogs. The place command is crucial, especially if you’re working from home and need your dog out of your space and to be quiet while you’re on a video call; it helps them calm down and self-soothe. Then you can invite your dog back over to you when you’re ready to provide affection.
First, you’ll use leash pressure to guide them to where they should go, such as their bed. You can guide them anywhere, as long as it allows you to do the things you need without them in the way. At 1:00 in the video above, watch me guide Bear to his bed the correct way. As soon as they touch the bed all the way, you reward them--it can be their daily kibble or some affection, whatever your dog likes the most. Then you keep repeating this over and over as non-verbally as possible. The place command helps your dogs to calm down and self-soothe. Next, you want to add in the command. I’ll say “place” as soon as I start moving, then guide Zig to the bed and reward her. Remember to speak first, then guide them. Watch me demonstrate this at 1:50 in the video. Bear was affection motivated, but Ziggy is food motivated, so I have her treats ready. Again, you’ll repeat this over and over. When they’re getting the hang of it, practice the same thing without the leash. In no time your dog should be ready to give you some space when needed. If you have any questions about teaching this command or our dog walking services, reach out via phone or our website. We would love to speak with you. Here’s why I can now take my dog Bear for a stress-free visit to the beach. Roughly one year ago, I reached out to Grant Noble of Noble Dogs for help with my dog Bear’s aggression issues, and to ensure that Bear would have a problem-free introduction to my boyfriend’s dog. I’m beyond pleased by Bear's progress over a relatively short period.
A key aspect of that progress has been the remote collar offered by Noble Dogs. Even before I put one on Bear, I was all in favor of remote collars because I’ve seen what they can do. Anything that cuts down the barrier of communication between a person and their dog is always helpful. In fact, I believe that remote collars are so revolutionary that I’ve made them a requirement with my business for dogs coming to the beach, or going on a hike. It’s been so life-changing that it feels like my business has been unleashed—literally. As I mentioned above, I was simply aiming to create a peaceful coexistence between Bear and my boyfriend’s dog, Ziggy. I achieved that goal and then some. They’re now best friends who run around together off-leash and unsupervised. I’m also a huge advocate for prongs and muzzles. Some might think that Bear’s muzzle inhibits his quality of life, but I couldn’t disagree more. I believe that the more tools you have for your dog, the easier life’s going to be for both of you. Now that Bear is muzzle-trained, thanks to Grant, he’s able to explore everything off-leash. Bear and I can embrace new situations without stressing. Sometimes dogs get “the Zoomies”—here’s what that means. Welcome back, fellow dog owners and lovers! As you know, my company is called The Zoomies Dog Walking, but what are “the Zoomies”?
I describe them as frantic, random activity periods that include:
As you can see in the video, my four-legged friends on today’s pack walk got their Zoomies in, and you’re looking at a group of nice, calm, well-mannered dogs. If you have questions about this topic or a dog who’d like to join our next pack walk, call or email me anytime. I’d love to hear from you. |
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