FREE Ask the Trainer Session - March 26th

What have you ALWAYS wanted to know about training your dog? No pet question is off limits at our LIVE Ask the Trainer session! Certified Pet Trainer Robin Lash of Morris K9 Campus will answer your questions tweeted to the Morris K9 Campus Twitter account on March 26 between 6 – 7 pm. 

Robin has been teaching group classes and private lessons at Morris K9 Campus since 2008. Before finding a home at Morris K9 Campus, Robin studied at a nationally recognized school where she learned everything from puppy imprinting to the dog sport of schutzhund. She is a positive trainer who uses force-free science based dog training methods to solve simple and complex behavior problems. 
 

Robin is a CPDT-KA Certified Pet Dog Trainer and is Knowledge Assessed through the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. She is also an evaluator for Creature Comfort, AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) and AKC Puppy STAR. In 2004, Robin earned her PSCA Level 1 and Level 2 Advanced Pet Care certification. Robin has also been featured in Fido Friendly Magazine, Dog Fancy Magazine, and Good Morning America for her Doga classes.

At Morris K9 Campus, Robin teaches classes in puppy training, obedience, pet therapy, doga and clever dog tricks. In her free time, she volunteers with her Border Collie Gabriel with Creature Comfort Pet Therapy.

Tweet @MorrisK9Campus on March 26 between 6 – 7 pm with the questions you’ve always wondered about your pet. Wondering how to stop your dog from jumping on visitors? How to stop barking or train your pet to come when called? Robin will tweet back her responses. We can’t wait to hear from you!

What is Rally?

Rally is a fun dog sport that is made up of obedience exercises and follows a numbered course. Different from formal competitive obedience, the exercises change from course to course. On the Rally course, there is a numbered sequence consisting of signs. The signs say which exercise you and your dog are supposed to perform. Sometimes it can be as easy as having your dog sit, while other signs can be moving exercises, such as left and right turns. Signs can also be placed by what we call an obstacle, which could be a series of cones that you need to heel around, or even a jump!

Although the exercises in Rally are based on those from formal obedience, Rally is much less formal. Although dogs are still required to heel (heel position is on the left side of the handler, parallel to them) and must still follow all commands the handler gives them, in Rally you can talk to your dog while working with them. In World Cynosport Rally (WCR), you can even feed or pet your dog after certain signs. Rally is definitely a dog-friendly sport!

Any dog is able to compete in rally. There are two main types of rally competitions: World Cynosport Rally and American Kennel Club (AKC). World Cynosport Rally (WCR) allows dogs with disabilities as well as mixed breeds. WCR also offers exercise modifications for dogs with disabilities. For example, a blind dog would be allowed to walk over a jump bar on the ground, instead of jumping a raised bar. These and other modifications would also be offered to older dogs or dogs with physical limitations. WCR Rally offers three levels of competition, as well as a puppy class and a veteran dog class. There are multiple titling opportunities in WCR, so you are able to stay in any level you would like and still compete for titles. The number of titles you can earn in WCR Rally are really limitless. Titles can be earned multiple times and are just noted as X2, or even up to X10!

 American Kennel Club (AKC) Rally offers three levels of competition. There are four possible titles to earn in AKC. You are not able to stay in a level past earning your title, you must move up to the next one. AKC Rally does not offer modifications or allow disabled (three-legged, deaf or blind) dogs to compete. Dogs must jump the height that is appropriate for their size, age and physical limitations are not considered when deciding the necessary jump height.

Both venues of competition offer opportunities to bond with your dog while earning titles along the way. Ribbons are always given out to teams with qualifying scores, placements and new titles. Teams also receive a title certificate so you have lots to show for the fun you are having with your dog!

Rally trials are typically laid back and promote a friendly, yet competitive environment. Although it is a competition, teams still cheer on other teams and wish them success, too. AKC Rally trials are often held combined with AKC Obedience trials or even Conformation events, so they can sometimes be a busier, more chaotic environment. WCR events are typically held by themselves in smaller training schools. Smaller trials make it very easy and worry-free for new competitors.

No matter what your goals are with your dog, Rally is for you. If you are looking for precision and perfect scores, you can get that in Rally. If you are looking to have fun with your dog and work your dog to the best of their ability, you can do that too! Some people participate in Rally just to help their dog build confidence, and don’t care so much about the score or ribbons. Rally is a great sport for anyone, and dogs really do enjoy it! 

Want to get started in rally with your dog? Register for our Intro to Rally class starting Monday, March 31. If you are interested in learning more by watching a competition or coming out to talk to the competitors, Morris K9 Campus will be hosting a WCR Rally Trial Event on Sunday May 11, 2014. Feel free to come by and check out this exciting sport, as well as get a feel for the dog-friendly environment!

Choosing the Right Crate for Your Dog

A crate can be one of the most beneficial tools for any dog owner. It provides a great way to help housetrain your dog and a way to keep your dog safe when they are not being monitored, among many other benefits. The crate can be an asset to any pet owner, but choosing the right one for your dog can be a daunting task. There are many different types of crates on the market, so which crate is right for your pet?

Wire Crate

Pros

• The wire crate allows for great ventilation, which is especially important in warm climates. It is also good for dogs that tend to get hot easily.
• Most wire crates now come with the option of a wire divider. This allows you to expand the crate as your puppy grows into it.
• Wire crates come with a tray in the bottom, which means easy cleaning since the surface can be removed and wiped down.

Cons

• Some dogs may find it easy to escape from a wire crate.
• Large crates can be big, heavy and difficult to move.

Hard Plastic

Pros

• This crate is perfect for dogs that like to cozy up in a corner.  It is made out of hard plastic and allows for the perfect spot to cuddle.
• If you plan on any airline travel for your dog, this is the crate that all airlines require.
• Since the sides are made of solid plastic, it is typically the most difficult of all standard crates for your dog to escape from.

Cons

• The crate is made of plastic, therefore is bulky and takes up a lot of room. It also doesn’t collapse as nicely as other crates.
• The crate isn’t ventilated as well as other options, so it isn’t designed to be used in warm climates or with dogs that tend to overheat easily.

Soft Sided Crate

Pros

• Perfect for on-the-go travel, these crates collapse down and are lightweight.

Cons

• Since they are made of fabric, they are easily destructible, making them better for smaller dogs and dogs who are already crate trained.
• These crates feature a zipper instead of a standard closure. It can be possible for some dogs to figure out how to escape by unzipping the crate.

Heavy Duty Crates

Pros

• If you have a dog that is a destructive chewer, it might be necessary to buy them a heavy duty crate. These crates are reinforced in order to prevent your dog from escaping.

Cons

• Since the crates are reinforced, they are typically bulky and very expensive.

Choosing the right crate for your dog can be easy, as long as you know what your dog’s needs are and how you intend on using the crate. Take the time to find the right crate and to crate train your dog properly. 

The Dog Gurus' Daycare Games

 All February long, Morris K9 Campus participated in The Dog Gurus’ Daycare Games. The games have come to an end and our staff earned an outstanding 13 medals, including 10 gold medals! The games worked on improving the skill sets of daycare attendees at Morris K9 Campus, while competing with other dog daycares across the country. 

Robin Bennett and Susan Briggs, the co-founders of The Dog Gurus, designed the Daycare Games as a skills-based challenge that keeps dogs safe and happy while recognizing top dog daycare providers for their unique skills.

The Daycare Games had three disciplines, all of which are equally important and helpful when you bring your dog home. Handlers competed in recalls, group sits and gate boundaries. The three different disciplines are aimed to improve the skills of the daycare staff through a variety of different obedience exercises. The purpose of using obedience skills and drills in daycare is to maintain control of the group, while reinforcing desired behavior.

One of the tested disciplines was recall. As per the rules of the games, staff had to verbally recall an individual dog that was at least six feet away from them. We practice recall in daycare every day. It is an important activity because it works using the “come” command, which can be transitioned to your home life with your dog as well.

The Daycare Games were so much fun to host, a great team bonding activity and our daycare dogs seemed to enjoy the competitive festivities. We feel that the commands and obedience skills used in the Daycare Games are critical to safe and fun group play, which is why we use them every day during daycare.

The Dog Gurus, who have put together industry standards for operating safe daycare in their e-book “The Four E’s of Excellence in Off-Leash Play”, detail the exact exercises that help daycare facilities take better care of your pet. This book is available online for members. Learn more about becoming a Dog Gurus member at www.TheDogGurus.com.

Responsible Pet Owner Month - Learn Your Training Terms

Have you ever been to a training class where the trainer mentioned a term and you didn’t know exactly what it meant? One of the most confusing parts of dog training can be the lingo used in training classes. As Responsible Pet Owner Month continues, one of the essential parts of training is in knowing the key terms and words pet trainers use. With an understanding of the most commonly used definitions, success in dog training is easily achievable. 
 
While there are many useful terms in training, first let’s focus on the basics. These terms are methods of teaching dogs to perform or learn a behavior, and are important for every dog owner to understand before they begin basic training. 

Luring
Luring is a term trainers use to describe a method where the dog follows a treat (or toy) to exercise a behavior.

Example: Pulling a treat up over your dog’s head for sit or pulling it forward for stand. Like a fish following a lure, the dog's body follows their nose and their nose is following the treat. Lures should be very quickly faded into rewards. A lure is used to PRODUCE a behavior. A reward is used AFTER the dog offers the behavior.

Capturing
Capturing is a term coined for when you just happen to catch your dog practicing a behavior and click/reward it. For capturing you’ll need to keep a clicker and small treats close at hand.

Example: To use capturing to teach your dog to lie down, simply wait for your dog to lie down then click/reward it. Capturing is also a great way to have fun actions on command. You can capture things like yawning, sneezing, begging - pretty much anything your dog does that you think is really cute and that you want them to do on cue.

Shaping
Shaping is rewarding incremental steps to a final behavior. With shaping, you’ll need good timing too, because you must click at just the right moment. Shaping also requires that the dog is clicker responsive.

Example: You can use shaping to get a dog to pick up and hold a light dumbbell. First click for the dog looking at the dumbbell, then up the ante to having the dog touch it with his nose, then licking it, then taking it in his mouth for a moment, then holding it, then picking it up from the floor.

Modeling
Modeling is the option least used by modern trainers. Modeling uses physical positioning to teach the dog a behavior. 

Example: Pushing a dog’s rear into a sit to teach the sit command. Try to avoid modeling, as it's the slowest and least effective way to train. Because the dog is physically put into position by their handler, it’s unlikely that the dog will remember or offer the behavior on their own. It's always better to get the dog to freely offer a behavior rather than forcing the action on the dog. Modeling makes for very unreliable behavior.

When training your dog, it is important to learn all of the terms associated with dog training. Do your best to educate yourself on additional terms. Words and phrases like “threshold”, “replacement behaviors”, and “impulse control” can often be heard during training. If you are unfamiliar with any language used by your trainer, don’t be afraid to ask! You can also always learn more about pet training by attending one of our Orientation classes. Register for one of our upcoming classes here!

Agility Release Cues - Off the Body vs. Verbal Do You Understand the Difference?

If you practice agility with your dog, have you ever wondered why your dog breaks the start line even though you've told them to stay?

Here's something handlers don't always think about: When we ask our dogs to stay, how long do we expect them to stay there? How do they know when they are allowed to move? What do we do to let them know they can move? All of these questions are the reasons for "release cues". 

A release cue is a word, common words are "okay", "free" or "break", that releases or lets the dog know they can move off of a stay. In agility, we use release cues for multiple behaviors.  The most common place for a release cue in agility is at the start line. The start line is the first obstacle in a course, usually a jump. Most handlers will leave their dog in a stay and walk past the start line so that they are ahead, and have a physical advantage over the dog. This is called "leading out". 

A very common issue handlers have in agility is their dog breaking the lead out position before they are ready to release them. Unfortunately, many handlers blame their dog or get upset because their dog did not wait to be released, when really the whole time they have been training their dog to release off their body movement, rather the verbal word. 

How does that happen? When teaching your dog a release word, many handlers will pair a hand movement with the verbal word. If the dog is always released with a moving hand and verbal, they are going to look for the moving hand more often than they would listen for a verbal. Dogs are very physical, and while of course people have been teaching dogs verbal commands for years, a body cue is always going to be stronger.

If you find your dog breaking when you haven't released them, make sure you aren't releasing with a body cue. To test for this, you can practice releasing your dog with no movement, and rewarding after they have broken and gotten to you.

 

Livvy's handler leads out, looks at her, does not move, and uses the word "ok" to release her

When you lead out, it is a good idea to have your dog stay for different amounts of time. Sometimes you can release right away, or other times stand and look at them for a few seconds before releasing, so they get used to your signal rather than the amount of time. The release word is key, so if your dog understands that the release word is when they can break their stay, they should not break on a body cue.

We are pleased to have Christina, one of our instructors at Morris K9 Campus, as a contributing writer for A Dog’s Life.

Kids and Dogs

Dogs and children both require a lot of attention, so when they interact with each other, sometimes things can get complicated. If you follow a very simple checklist, you can prevent dangerous situations and your pets and kids can get along well. Keep in mind that this list is aimed at older kids about three years and up:

Kids and Dogs’ Checklist:

• Establish ground rules before the two interact for the first time. Lay out the rules for your child as clearly as possible and make sure they agree to follow them.

• It’s critical to teach your child the right way to approach and interact with your dog. Teach them to pet the dog on their chest and cheeks, rather than hitting the dog on the top of the head. 

• Protect your dog and make sure they feel safe while your child is interacting with them. If your puppy feels unsafe, they may be forced to protect themselves which can be risky for your child. You can help prevent this by monitoring interactions between the two and stopping your child from doing things like pulling on your dog’s ears or tail. 

• Do not allow rambunctious play between your child and dog, even if it sounds like they are both having fun. Running around and screaming can be too much for your dog and over stimulation can cause your puppy to act improper with your child.

• Educate your child on how to properly play with your dog with games like hide and seek, fetch and catch. These can all be great games if properly played and supervised. 

• It’s important to teach your kids to never approach a stranger’s dog without permission from both you and the dog’s owner. Not all dogs are friendly, and even a friendly dog can be scared by an overexcited child.

• Get your children involved in the training of your dog. This is a great way to build a confident relationship between the two. Keep in mind that you should be monitoring all types of training that your child does with your dog, as kids tend to go to extremes with their commands and it can end up having an adverse effect on your pooch.

• Children and puppies should never be unsupervised at any point, period.  

Children and dogs can have a great relationship if it is handled properly. Make sure to always supervise your child and your dog to prevent any incidents. Getting your children involved in the training of your dog teaches them responsibility and can greatly improve their relationship. Morris K9 Campus offers a “Kids Training Dogs” Workshop, where you can oversee your child as the one in charge of training your pooch. Visit or call (973) 252-5100 to sign your kid and your pooch up today!

What is agility?

Agility, in basic terms, is an obstacle course that dogs run while the handler directs them where to go.  In competition, people compete for titles. To someone who has worked hard training their dog and putting lots of time into getting ready for competition, nothing is more gratifying than being successful and earning a title.

If you were to survey participants at an agility competition, also know as an agility “trial,” “match” or “show,” they would all have different ways to define agility. However, from the highest level of competition to someone just practicing agility in their backyard, the common idea is to have fun with your dog! Agility is a sport, in which the ultimate goal is teamwork. The dog’s responsibility is executing the agility obstacles, or in dog terms, running, jumping, climbing. The human’s responsibility is to direct the dog on course and show them where to go next.  

Agility is all about speed and precision, and is great exercise for both the human and the dog! Agility is a great confidence builder for timid dogs, or a great energy release for those dogs that are just too wound up.  The bond training and competing creates between dog and handler is like no other. You learn how to communicate through motion and body cues. A successful agility team is not necessarily the fastest, but a team in which motion is smooth and flawless.   

People do agility with their dogs for various reasons. Some are just looking for something fun to do with their dog and have no interest in competing.  There are some teams who compete on a limited basis by attending local shows to earn titles. Some people compete often, traveling all around, spending up to three days at a time working towards Masters Titles or Championships. The “die-hards” compete to qualify for nationals, invitationals and may even go as far as trying out for the world team.  Agility at the highest level possible are world events, similar to the Olympics. Countries all around the world compile teams of the best dogs and handlers and compete for medals against each other. 

Regardless of your agility goals, if you are looking for something fun to do with your dog, agility is for you! Morris K9 Campus is proud to offer agility classes and workshops at every level. If you are curious, a “die-hard” or somewhere in between, call us today at 973-252-5100 to learn more about what agility class might be right for you and your pet! 

               

Dr. Ian Dunbar's Training Tips

Morris K9 Campus was proud to welcome Dr. Ian Dunbar, celebrated Veterinarian, Animal Behaviorist and Author, to our facility on June 15 and 16. Dr. Ian Dunbar’s workshop and Q&A were fun for both dogs and humans alike. Not only was the event enjoyable, it was also very educational. Dr. Dunbar discussed some crucial information about training your dog. Training is meant to be fun for both of you. It not only can strengthen the bond between dog and owner, it also can be beneficial for your dog to know commands for everyday situations.

One of the major points that Dr. Dunbar mentioned was, “it is okay to give your dogs treats, but you can’t have your dog’s behavior contingent on you having food in your hand.” Essentially, you want your dog to listen to your command the second you tell them to do something, regardless of whether or not you have a treat in your hand. Keep in mind that in order to get to that point in your dogs training, you will need to do a lot of training using treats first. You cannot expect your dog to do exactly what you want without them during your very first training session. 

Another point that Dr. Dunbar made was about dogs that do not eat food when they are being trained. If your dog has issues eating during training and doesn’t seem to be very treat motivated, there are things that you can do in order to get your pooch to eat. Dr. Dunbar’s first advice is to no longer let your dog eat out of a bowl; instead, every time they eat, they should eat out of your hand. He also recommended that you stop using high value treats, such as chicken, and only use kibble when working on training with your dog. If you only train your dog using kibble, the kibble will become a driving force for your dog and commands won’t be reliant on having a high value treat in your hand.  

Training should be fun and beneficial for you and your dog. When done correctly, it can help you in any situation. Training takes time and practice. If you are consistent and work hard, you and your pooch will both see the benefits. For training assistance at your pace, sign up for one of our Levels Training Orientation classes to learn more about how Morris K9 Campus can help you and your pet put Dr. Dunbar's training tips into action. Our training methods follow Dr. Dunbar's philosophies, and we agree, training should be fun! Call us at 973-212-5100 today!

Dr. Ian Dunbar at Morris K9 Campus

Does your dog do something that you just can’t understand? Are you interested in learning more about dog behavior and how it pertains to your pooch? Join Dr. Ian Dunbar next Saturday night at Morris K9 Campus as he takes a rare opportunity to answer the questions you have about your dog. Dr. Ian Dunbar is a well-known veterinarian and animal behaviorist who has been a pioneer in both puppy socialization and dog training.

Dr. Dunbar graduated with his degree in Veterinary medicine from Royal Veterinary College at London University, and received his doctorate in Animal Behavior from UC Berkley. He also founded the basis for positive dog training and introducing positive methods such as luring, which replaces ineffective punishment methods. These training methods eventually lead to Dr. Dunbar founding the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, known as APDT. The association is aimed at providing dog owners with the tools and resources they need to find dog trainers and advice on raising your dog.

Dr. Dunbar created the world’s first off leash puppy class, a revolutionary approach to the socialization and training of puppies. His innovative puppy class is the basis and foundation for the weekly puppy class offered at Morris K9 Campus.

Saturday June 15^th from 7:00pm to 9:00pm is your chance to ask questions about efficient ways of training your dog. Whether you have specific or general questions, this Q&A session can greatly benefit both you and your dog. We believe that learning effective training methods is so important that we want to invite our blog readers to attend this session for FREE. All you need to do is register online. Register on our website at www.MorrisK9Campus.com, enter the code DUNBAR13 for free registration and join us on Saturday the 15^th ready to ask any and all questions about training your pup! This Q&A session is for humans only.

In addition to the evening question and answer session, Dr. Dunbar will be hosting a Fun and Games Dog Training Workshop on Saturday and Sunday, June 15^th and 16^th. As a part of his east coast seminar tour, this workshop presents a unique opportunity to work side-by-side with your dog and Dr. Dunbar! Visit the event website at www.jamesandkenneth.com for more information and to register.

From his Q&A to his hands-on workshops, these events will be an experience that no pet owner is likely to forget! Take advantage of this unique experience and register now!

Wanna Go for a Walk? Choosing the Right Harness or Head Collar

Spring has sprung, and your pup is probably anxious to pull you out the front door to go for a walk. Even if you don’t have a dog that pulls, choosing the correct equipment can make an ordinary walk with your dog safer and more enjoyable.

Choosing to walk your dog with a harness or head collar can have great safety benefits for your dog. Pet stores have a variety of different items to choose from, which can seem overwhelming. Luckily, there are three that Morris K9 Campus considers the best no-pull devices on the market today, and all of them are available for purchase in our lobby.

Freedom Harness: Made by Wiggles Wags and Whiskers, the Freedom Harness is specially designed to gently tighten around your dog’s chest to prevent them from pulling. The harness features clips in both the front and the back, and is designed for comfort featuring a velvet strap that goes under your dog’s chest to prevent chafing. The harness comes in a variety of different colors, so you can find the one that best suits your four-legged friend.

Austin, a terrier mix and daycare client at Morris K9 Campus, wears a navy Freedom Harness.

Gentle Leader: This product is made by Premier and is marketed as a head collar that stops pulling, lunging and other unwanted behaviors. The Gentle Leader goes around your dog’s mouth and the top of their head and prevents pulling by guiding your dog’s head down when they pull. The device allows for great control of your dog, and is highly recommended for anyone struggling with enforcing proper walking skills. Even though this product goes around the dog’s mouth, it is not a muzzle; the dog will still have free use of their mouth to sniff and eat.

Daycare client Reggie, a goldendoodle, shows off a gentle leader.

Sensation Harness: Designed by Softtouch, this front connection harness is meant to prevent your dog from pulling while focusing on solving common behavioral problems typically run into by owners. Since the harness clips in the front, where the dog’s chest moves, their body will follow, eliminating pulling.

Oliver, another daycare client, models the Sensation Harness.

These items are made to prevent your dog from pulling and have safety benefits unlike other devices such as flat buckles, prong and choke collars, which can often cause physical damage to your pooch when not used properly or used for the wrong dog. A dog who repeatedly pulls on a regular collar risks conditions like a collapsed trachea with repeated wearing. 

These selections mentioned above should not cause damage, will help you while walking, and can greatly benefit both you and your dog. Stop by our lobby and have one of our experts fit your dog for any of them.

A pull harness can quickly improve your dog’s walking skills, however, training classes complement these no-pull harnesses and head collars nicely and do more to change the pulling behavior of your dog. For a list of our upcoming training classes, visit our website at www.MorrisK9Campus.com. 

Bark all about it! De-stressing tip three: How to stop "give me that" barking

Do you have a dog that tends to bark in order to get something from you? There are lots of reasons why dogs bark, as it is their dominant means of communication, but this persistent “give-me-that” barking is when a dog continuously barks at you until they get what they want. As stressful and annoying as this behavior can be, “give me that” barking can be an easy thing to correct. Eliminating it can be simple, but the key is to be consistent.

The most common times your dog will bark are during dinner (to beg for food), playtime (to get you to throw a toy) and just before going outside (when seeing a leash), all in order to get your attention. Let’s break down these specific examples of “give-me-that” barking, and what tools you can use in order to discourage the behavior.

Barking for playtime: If your dog drops a tennis ball on your lap and starts to bark at you to get you to play, it is a prime example of “give-me-that” barking. You want to discourage this behavior by taking the toy away and ignoring your dog until they calm down. Once they stop barking and are calm, the toy can be brought back out, at least until they bark at you again. Keep repeating the same steps until your dog will play with you without barking. It is important to be on top of this behavior and reward your dog by initiating play while they are calm, before they get to the point of excited barking. A dog that is already wound up will tend to bark more as a way of releasing their energy.

Barking when putting on a leash: If your dog begins to bark at you when you are at the door with their leash in your hand, it’s important to put the leash away and sit back down in order to get rid of the behavior. Once your dog is calm, you can get up to bring your dog out again, but you must keep repeating the behavior until they stop barking. The process may seem long and tedious at first, but repeating this action will be worth it when you consistently get the desired behavior from your dog.

Barking at the table for food: Barking at the dinner table in order to get food can be extremely common with dogs. Not only is it an annoying habit, but it can be very stressful for the owner. As with other “give-me-that” barking, eliminating this behavior can be easy if you regularly follow the same steps. If your dog is barking at the table, you can try consistently giving them a time out, a small 30 second period where they are away from the family, until the behavior subsides. Another option is training your dog to do something else during your meals. A great example would be “spot,” or training your dog to go and stay in a particular place (preferably away from the table) until you release them.

If your pooch fits into one of these pesky barking habits, remember that this kind of training takes patience and consistence. If all else fails, consult a professional for advice! Morris K9 Campus offers training to help correct this behavior. Call 973-252-5100 for more information or visit www.MorrisK9Campus.com.

How to stop your dog from jumping: Week two of our March de-stressing tips

Do you dread people coming to your house because you don’t know how to get your dog to stop jumping? We are here to help! Continuing our March theme of giving you some helpful de-stressing tips, we are focusing on jumping.

The behaviors your dog displays when meeting another person can be just as important as the behaviors they display when meeting another dog. Before you scold Fido for jumping on people, it’s important to establish your rules for jumping. Decide what you want to allow your dog to do, and stick with it. Once you determine whether or not you will allow your dog to jump, you can begin training.

The main rule of training is just as important for you to follow as it is for your pooch: You cannot be selective about who your pup can and can't jump on. It’s no okay to praise and pet your dog when they jump on you, for example, but punish them when they jump on grandma.

The most important part of teaching your dog not to jump is to remove any type of attention when they do. Even when you tell a dog “no,” they are still getting some sort of attention from you. Your dog doesn’t care whether or not the attention is negative or positive, as long as they are getting attention. When your dog jumps, it’s best to turn your body around 180 degrees, face away from them and ignore them. This removes the attention they are used to getting and discourages jumping.  Here is a short clip of staff member Caitlyn demonstrating the 180 turn and asking for a sit before petting:

It is crucial that you do not overreact when your dog does jump. If your dog is jumping on you, sniffing and giving you love and you respond by shouting in their face or putting your knee up, you are actually rewarding the wrong behavior and giving your dog the attention they are craving. Believe it or not, this encourages the jumping! The only effective way to respond to jumping is to remove all reinforcement by turning your back, walking away, or giving the dog a time out.

If you do have a dog that you allow to jump, it’s important to take steps to prevent your dog from jumping on someone that they shouldn’t. When grandma comes to visit, ask for a different behavior out of your dog, such as a sit, or prevent them from jumping by curbing the leash. There are ways of managing the situation when you can’t do anything else. You just have to choose the one that works for you.

Morris K9 Campus works on building “no jumping” skills in our Level 02: Impulse Control class. Register your dog for a pet training membership today.

                                         

Morris K9 Campus Levels Training Information