Sinclair’s CGC Challenge – Day 1
(To find out what Sinclair’s Challenge is, check our post from yesterday.) Today, my goal was to find out what he could do, and to start working on what I know he has a problem with – polite walking. I knew he had already learned sit, down, and stay, but he surprised me with how well he knows them! However, there is a key piece to this puzzle that is missing. Watch and see what we need to work on: We also started working on polite walking. Look how much can be accomplished in a 5 minute training session! I always tell my clients, don’t try to set aside big chunks of time to...
Read MoreSinclair’s Ten Day CGC Challenge
Hello! Wow, it’s been a while, hasn’t it? We’ve been busy busy busy fostering, getting married, and going on our honeymoon! We’re back now, and ready to hit the road running and blog again. Meet Sinclair! I fell in love with this sweet boy’s face when he was first posted as “needing rescue” on the BARCS Facebook page. I admit, I’ve always had a soft spot for huge goofy ears! At the time, we had another foster dog and couldn’t take him in, but I promised that if he was still in need after Isis was adopted that I would get him out. Fast...
Read MoreCGC Test on July 7th
Canine Lifestyle Academy and Jasmine’s House Pit Bull Organization are excited to announce our first public Canine Good Citizen test! Our goal is to CGC certify as many bully breed dogs in Maryland as possible – however, ALL dogs are welcome to take the exam! To become a Canine Good Citizen, your dog will need to be able to follow the guidelines listed here: AKC’s Canine Good Citizen Program. The cost per dog is $15, with the majority of the proceeds going to Jasmine’s House, a 501(3)c non-profit (a small amount will go to CLA to cover the administration costs...
Read More“It’s All In How You Raise Them” … Or Is It?
It’s funny how the pendulum swings … I have noticed a disturbing trend recently among dog owners and rescuers. “Back in the day” (whenever that was), if a dog was aggressive or destructive or difficult to train, people either punished it severely, or got rid of it. Behavior science and public education have come a long way since then, but I’m afraid the blame-game has just found a new target. Though mantras like “there are no bad dogs; only bad owners” have helped people realize that training and management are the owner’s responsibility, they have also caused a lot of...
Read MoreE-Collar Training vs. Clicker Training
Imagine you’re in elementary school again, playing the “warmer/colder” game – you know, the one where a friend chooses an item in the room and tells you “warmer” when you’re getting close, and “colder” when you are going the wrong way. Now, imagine every time you get “warmer”, your friend gives you an M&M. It’s not a huge reward, but it’s motivating, tasty, and the game is fun in and of itself. You are more and more excited to try new directions and find your goal, and you never get frustrated even if it takes...
Read MoreNew Off-Leash Puppy Classes!
Join us in Westminster on Wednesday nights for puppy socialization and training. Did you know that puppies need to be socialized to hundreds of people, dogs, objects, and sounds before they are 16 weeks old? Up until 16 weeks puppies are sponges for knowledge, learning what is safe and what is scary in the world, and learning doggy social skills. It is very easy to get a baby puppy acclimated to something new – everything is new to them! At about 16 weeks, however, they start to transition from baby puppy to adolescence and become suspicious of anything unfamiliar. After that 16 week...
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