Treat Training

When training a dog, many people resort to using treats. While although this can be a nice quick method to get immediate results in the beginning.......it will create more bad, or lazy behavior from your dog, later.

 When treats are used in training it can promote a very poor work ethic in a dog. In other words, a dog will only work when offered or shown a treat!  This can create a major problem if you do not always want to be carrying beef jerky treats all day long!

 When training a dog to perform from respect, and for life, you must build the desire in the dog to work for YOU, because that is what is what he wants to do. Not because he is being bribed!

My favorite treat to use, is M&M's.  NOT FOR THE DOG!!!! For ME! 

 Training takes a lot of patience, and I reward myself often. It is a little reward system for me, to have more patience to build the strong work ethic in the dog. For the dog, I usually use getting attention from me, as their reward.  It makes me very popular with the dogs.

 I know, I know...maybe I shouldn't get treats either?....Don't worry......we will work on my behavior later! (maybe)

Crates, Kennels, and Dungeons?

Many people refuse to use a crate in the training and raising of their dog. They feel guilt when introducing a crate into their dog's life. They feel it is a cage, a dungeon, and a punishment.


 If you have raised children that are over the age of middle school, then you may recall sending your child to their room for negative behavior. When you did this, your intention was to interfere the bad behavior and to give the child a safe place to recollect their composure, before anyone lost their temper.

 Most likely, you did not send your child to a cold basement, but rather to their fully decorated bedroom, filled with their favorite books, toys, soft bed, and personal treasures.
Try to imagine your dog's crate exactly that- a beautiful place, a happy place, to be calm.

Dog Toys and Rules that Go With Them

Too Much Access and Too Many Toys?

People seem to understand that a child that is given everything, never learning to earn, and never learning to respect what they have will grow into a needy and selfish child with very little manners.


This also happens with dogs.

Many homes that I visit have a basket full of toys available to their dog at all times, yet the dog is still eating their carpet, furniture, shoes, and house.  People offer toys with hopes the dog will choose to chew on the toys, in lieu of the couch.

A dog does not automatically understand that your stuffed couch is off-limits, and the stuffed duck is a toy. Dogs need to learn what is ok to chew and what is not ok to chew. All dogs are perfectly capable of understanding this when taught with no confusion.

A dog should be offered a toy, for displaying good behavior, like a child is rewarded a sticker on their chart for completing chores. One sticker, not a trip to Disneyland, everyday.


A living room filled with toys for a dog to play constantly, only promotes a dog that must be constantly entertained. Our goal is to create a calm a balanced dog. 

Spoiling your dog and indulging your dog in activity and affection in every moment, creates a dog that will not sit idle for you when necessary.

If your dog is not behaving the way you want him to...try to look closer to see if you raised your dog to be that way. Ouch.

Responsible parenting is important for K9 children too!

Why does my dog pull and bark on leash?

Barking and Pulling on the Leash

The barking and pulling are symptoms. A prong, shock, or control collar are all band aids. Even the gentle leader halter does not solve your problem long term.

Just like an exterior sore on our arm, may indicate an interior problem. A band aid only masks the true issue, and the illness will grow until correctly cured.

Same with your dog.

It seems like a lot to handle, but try to look at all the little things is what causes the big reactions.

Learning to walk a dog properly on a leash is not hard to physically do, but it very demanding emotionally.....because you can not be emotional for this to work! Please read our leash walking blogs. Pulling ahead of you and barking are all behaviors that are disrespectful of you, rather than reactions to their surroundings. 

Chewing at the pillows on your couch is disrespectful behavior for your dog  to have in your home. Rather than putting the pillows out of reach, teach your dog he is not allowed to touch the pillows. By understanding boundaries, your dog will learn your expectations, creating him to be more respectful in the house.

It is a battle of establishing boundaries and wrestling with your own emotions of feeling guilty for giving boundaries. Dogs don't think of boundaries as you being mean, but view your guidance as displaying signs of leadership.

A dog will love many people, but only follow a leader.

Put One Foot in Front of the Other

Educating My Dog

One Step In Front Of the Other.........

Try to remember this song from Santa Claus is coming to town,

"Put one step in front of the other, and soon you'll be walking out the door......

Training a dog is a process, to be taken one step at a time, moving forward with success, and meant to be an enjoyable process.

Many times people get frustrated in training their dogs because they have expectations beyond their dogs' trained ability. They expect the puppy in preschool to be performing at middle school level....

Or.....more commonly, a dog owner excuses bad behavior as acceptable puppy behavior. Excuses are easier than actually following through on the training. There is a clear difference between puppy behavior; needing to chew, and bad puppy behavior: chewing the couch and your shoes.

A young dog is capable to understand your rules and expectations easily, when your communication is clear.  If you have had a California Dog University Dog Behavior Therapist in your home to assist with your dog, then you are a witness to the dog behaving different with us and understand the potential for a calm and well behaved dog to share your home with. 

Our job is to help you achieve your desired results.  Rather than teaching your dog a lot of people talk, we focus on instructing you in dog language. It is easier and quicker to get results from your dog when you understand the language.

Join us each Saturday for a one hour group session to get a sample of California Dog University. Schedule a in-home training session....and let us show you our WOW!

www.californiadoguniversity.com

951-834-5720

Front Door Training for Dogs Made Easy!

The Prize is Behind Door #1

Training a dog at the front door is so simple once you realize the value of what you are offering.

Is your dog bolting out the door, jumping on guests, acting wild and crazy as you are trying to take him out for a walk?

If you have attended any of our classes and in home training, you know we would say... why is the dog at the door to begin with.... if he can't behave?  I have kids and if they whined the whole ride (or even partial) on the way to Disneyland....they knew they would not be entering those pearly gates!

To have a successful walk with your dog, you need to start with a calm dog. A calm dog is not panting, drooling, scratching, jumping, etc.  A calm dog is looking like he is bored. 

Sound impossible? It's not. ALL dogs can achieve this calmness. Recollect a time when you have seen your dog totally relaxed at some moment in it's life. Now, you just have to learn how to have this happen more often! You control the volume.... just keep reading with us....

For this post, we are going to focus on the door, and being calm at the door. Imagine the door as a million bucks to your dog. It is only offered, or opens, only when he remains calm. It is taken away, or closed, as he shows signs of excitement. 

Don't go too quickly. This is where everyone messes up. Touching the door knob may create the dog's change in behavior. If he can't be calm with you touching the handle, he absolutely can not be calm with the door open. 

You should never pay out the paycheck (or reward) if the dog did not perform the work.  For every time your dog is calm you can open the door. If your dog can not be calm, walk away from the door. Game over, try again later.

Dogs are simple, and respond and react simply for emotional reasons that have been reinforced....by you.

Come train with us! 951-834-5720