Archive for the 'Dog Trainer' Category

Dog Trainer Photo Sweepstakes Winner

Published February 13, 2012 Dog Trainer Leave a Comment
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Jessica's dog Kavik poses with the prize.

Kavik's favorite new toy.

Congratulations to Jessica Buccilli of Coleman, Michigan for winning the Grand Prize in our Dog Trainer Photo Sweepstakes!

Quick and Dirty Tips has received word that Jessica’s dogs – Kavik and Wisp – are really enjoying their winnings. The prize even found an unlikely fan in the family’s cats, who enjoyed the box it came in.

Looks like the gift basket of goodies from our generous sweepstakes sponsor, SitStay, is being put to good use! We hope Kavik and Wisp continue to enjoy it!

Check out The Dog Trainer page for more tips on raising your dog — plus future sweepstakes and prize opportunities!

Have You Checked Out the Dog Trainer Photo Gallery?

Published January 14, 2012 Dog Trainer Leave a Comment

Check out the awesome submissions in our

Dog Trainer Photo Sweepstakes gallery!

Then, post your favorites on the Quick and Dirty Tips Facebook wall.

We’ll announce the lucky  winners on January 30, 2012!

Dog Licks Everything All the Time? Head for the Vet

Published November 30, 2011 Dog Trainer Leave a Comment
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By The Dog Trainer

The Dog TrainerWhen we first adopted our dog Izzy, in 1998, she had a habit of licking the varnish off our floors. She’d just lie there, seemingly at ease, licking the space between her forepaws till the wood was bare. She was an active young dog, and the problem went away after I started taking her for a long off-leash walk in the park every morning, so I assumed she’d been working off energy and had also been bored.

An elderly Izzy, with her floor-licking days behind her.

Since then, working with dogs who have behavior problems, I’ve generally seen persistent licking of surfaces as either an attention-seeking behavior or a form of Canine Compulsive Disorder. But a recent study by Véronique Bécuwe of the University of Montreal’s veterinary school found that it ain’t necessarily so.

Continue reading ‘Dog Licks Everything All the Time? Head for the Vet’

Video of the Week: Recall Games

Published November 25, 2011 Dog Trainer , Quick & Dirty Team 2 Comments

Avoid Black Friday lines at the mall and teach your dog to come when called instead. Enjoy!

QDT in Review – Thanksgiving Edition

Published November 24, 2011 Dog Trainer , Get-Fit Guy , Nutrition Diva 2 Comments

In honor of this holiday weekend, here’s your Thanksgiving survival guide, courtesy of the experts at QDT:

Tasty, isn't it! (via SliceOfChic/Flickr)

  • You’ve been following Nutrition Diva’s advice, eating better, shedding pounds, feeling great. Suddenly, Thanksgiving threatens to ruin all your dedication. Nutrition Diva to the rescue!
  • After all that fattening food, it’s time to hit the gym with Get-Fit Guy. Just make sure you don’t make any of these 7 common gym mistakes.
  • If you have the long weekend off, there’s plenty of time to play with your dog. Just make sure you don’t accidentally teach him these bad behaviors. And if you do, The Dog Trainer can help.
  • Grammar Girl puts an end to the perennial debate: Much Thanks v. Many Thanks. Which is correct?

Separation Anxiety P.S.

Published November 23, 2011 Dog Trainer 1 Comment
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By The Dog Trainer

The Dog TrainerDogs with separation anxiety are miserable — they panic when they’re left alone. They may howl, urinate and defecate, and chew desperately at doors trying to escape. “Silent sufferers” are those dogs who just shut down; their guardians may never even notice that anything’s wrong, since the dog lies down quietly. To a non-expert eye, she probably looks relaxed.

In my episode on the subject, I didn’t distinguish between “separation anxiety” and “isolation distress.” They’re closely intertwined. For both, good treatment combines behavior modification with appropriate meds. And most trainers and behavior specialists use the umbrella term “separation anxiety.” But if your dog is anxious or frightened when you leave the house, you and your behavior consultant will want to figure out which of the two subcategories you’re looking at.

"Don't leave me!" (Screencap from Carnival of Souls; Wikimedia Commons)

A dog with “separation anxiety” panics when he’s apart from a particular person or persons. Every time you go away, he flips. The quickest progress in behavior modification comes if you can avoid all separations from him except for the controlled ones that are part of your training plan. That’s a tall order.

Continue reading ‘Separation Anxiety P.S.’

QDT in Review

Published November 21, 2011 Dog Trainer , Get-Fit Guy , Modern Manners Guy , Nutrition Diva 2 Comments

It has certainly been an eventful few weeks here at Quick and Dirty Tips:

  • Get-Fit Guy had a stunning victory at the Jamaica Triathlon, and then relaxed on the beach with a cool drink.
  • The Dog Trainer’s new book was released, along with special videos of her showcasing some fun training techniques.
  • Thanks to Nutrition Diva, we learned that Greek yogurt is actually much more fattening than regular yogurt (bummer).
  • Modern Manners Guy taught us a thing or 2 (actually 3) about the etiquette of tailgating.
  • The Huffington Post was ablaze with comments on Nutrition Diva’s dehydration myth and Get-Fit Guy’s muscle-building articles.

Our Favorite Books This Week

Published November 18, 2011 Dog Trainer , Grammar Girl Leave a Comment
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If you want…..

….an easy-to-follow course in Dog 101, pick up The Dog Trainer’s Complete Guide to a Happy, Well-Behaved Pet by Jolanta Benal

….a primer on 101 words that will expand your vocabulary and make you sound more sophisticated, pick up Grammar Girl’s 101 Words to Sound Smart by Mignon Fogarty

….a hilarious (yet entirely accurate) take on proper grammar, pick up The Elements of F*cking Style by Chris Baker and Jacob Hansen

Anger Is a Time-Waster

Published November 18, 2011 Dog Trainer Leave a Comment
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The Dog Trainerby The Dog Trainer

Guilty or just fearful? (via digitalshay/Flickr)

Some trainers still advise us to communicate with our dogs as if they understood human moral codes. But dogs don’t have that understanding — or, at least, it doesn’t look as if they do. What if we’re blaming our dogs for doing wrong when they don’t know right from wrong? We’re expecting too much of them and, probably, wasting our time being angry.

So the next time you’re super double sure your dog knows that she did wrong, and knows what she did wrong, take a deep breath and think again. Maybe you need to train a little more, or change something about your dog’s daily schedule, or get professional help with a behavior problem. Whatever’s going on, a good first step in dealing with it is always going to be “Turn off your mad.”

What to Do with Dogs Who Don’t Like Kids

Published November 12, 2011 Dog Trainer Leave a Comment
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By Dog Trainer

The Dog Trainer

This dog does not like you, child. (via Jixar/Flickr)

You’re going to feel like hell if your dog scares or bites a child, to say nothing of the potential lawsuit. So be observant, proactive, and honest.

If your dog hides behind your legs when she sees a kid coming, step between your dog and the child. The dog will not change her mind and suddenly enjoy meeting the toddler. If the dog sits with her mouth drawn tight and her head averted while kids pet her, this is not her party. Continue reading ‘What to Do with Dogs Who Don’t Like Kids’

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