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!

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.

Chew on This

Is your dog a destructive chewer, ruining everything you own? Hopefully this week’s De-Stress Fest will help relax you. It’s all too easy for your dog to be the reason you stress out. For the month of March, every week we will be taking a look at common ways that your dog can stress you out, and help solve them. This week we are taking a look at destructive chewing and ways that you can help occupy your pooch.

When a dog is chewing, one reason can be a lack of exercise. Every dog has a different energy level and therefore needs a different amount of exercise. If your dog is excessively chewing at home, getting out could do them a lot of good. It’s important to create an exercise plan that sets a minimum amount of time each week that will be devoted to your dogs exercise schedule. Consistency is key in order to keep your dog active. Just because you consistently bring your dog to the park one week, and keep them home the next because of the bad weather, doesn’t mean your dog is getting an adequate amount of exercise. Daycare can be a great option that allows your dog to be social with other dogs, while allowing them to expend their energy. 

Treats above are sold at Morris K9 Campus.

It’s important to have the proper tools for the proper situations. For example it is important to introduce your dog to toys that they are allowed to chew on, such as antlers , himalayan chews, stuffed bones or Kongs. This can keep your dog occupied and distracted from chewing on the furniture or other household items. It’s also important to make sure you have tools in place when you leave the house. Interactive toys are great, and keep your dog occupied while you are gone. However it is important to only allow your dog to have these types of things when you are not there. When you leave the house get the toy out, and when you come home put the toy away. It puts a value on the toy which can make your dog more interested in it. Eliminating your dog’s behavior that is stressful to you is crucial; it will allow you to live a better life for both you and your dog.

For more information about Morris K9 Campus's Daycare please follow this link http://morrisk9campus.com/daycare.asp