The crate is a marvelous tool: Good for short stints of alone time and for getting your dog to settle down, great for house-training and travel. Worried a crate is just one step up from imprisonment? No need. Like coyotes and wolves, dogs are den animals that enjoy close quarters. That said, it would be… Read more »
Two-legged kids are not the only ones to go through an awkward phase. Adolescence—usually thought of as the period from four months to two years of age, a little later for larger breeds—often feels like an honest-to-goodness teenage rebellion. Your young dog develops selective hearing, seems to forget manners they know well, and reverts to… Read more »
As the name suggests, earthdog work tests a dog’s natural instinct to delve underground in the hunt for small game (foxes, badgers, otters) or vermin (rats, rabbits). One step at a time, dogs are introduced to quarry, are encouraged to follow a scent trail, and finally learn to negotiate underground tunnels until the quarry is… Read more »
Dogs are intensely social creatures that find it hard to spend hours alone each day. Often, problematic dog behaviors can be directly attributed to boredom and loneliness: Chewing, digging, barking, and separation anxiety. Avoid these pitfalls by giving your dog activities to keep him happily occupied in your absence. The ideal combination is one of… Read more »
If you can, sneak pills into your dog either by getting chewable medication from your vet, mixing the meds in with your dog’s meal, or sticking the pill inside a soft treat like cheese or hot dog. If that doesn’t work, the procedure is: 1. Hold the pill with one hand. Place that hand on… Read more »
Few things are more satisfying than knowing you’ve put in a good day’s work, especially when you get to do something for which you feel uniquely suited. And herding dog breeds and breed mixes? Made (literally) to herd. People who share their lives with these energetic and intelligent dogs report that no amount of… Read more »
I know we talk about Work for Food toys A LOT at Happy Dog Institute, but we want you to understand the value these toys have! Not only do work for food toys keep your dog from getting bored while you are away, but they can buy you some “puppy free time”. It also develops… Read more »
Are You Ready For This? In addition to being joy-spreading, frolicsome, heart-stealing little creatures, puppies are also a great deal of work, and preparation is key to making your puppy’s entry into your life a success all round. Buy puppy equipment. At a minimum, you will need: Food (everyday meals, chews) and bowls. Puppy crate.… Read more »
Click here to download the full PDF version of Happy Dog Institute’s Summer School 2011 Newsletter. Will Work For Food. Does your dog scarf down meals in mere seconds? Then both of you are missing out. For dogs, eating should be work. First of all because searching and hunting for food is natural for… Read more »
Keeping Your Dog Busy & Stimulated in the Bad Weather When the weather gets gross it’s often hard to motivate ourselves – or our dogs! – to go outside and play or expend energy. When dogs spend more time inside, it’s easy for them to develop “cabin fever”. There’s no reason to feel guilty,… Read more »
TRAINING HIGHLIGHT Creating a Focused Dog in Distracting Situations What Influences Our Dog’s Behavior?Dogs are dogs. That’s what we love about them, right? As clichéd as it may sound, they win us over with their unconditional love and happy-go-lucky attitude. It’s not so fun, however, when we end up in a situation where we can’t… Read more »
It’s officially Summer and, provided it’s not raining, distractions (squirrels, other dogs, kids, bikes – you name it) come out of the woodwork. Wouldn’t it be great to have a focused dog who can walk by others with ease, or resist chasing that squirrel up the tree? That’s what Happy Dog Institute is here for!… Read more »
