Fun things you can teach your pet

When you are looking to interact with your pet in other ways, you can teach them fun tricks or games as well. Pets learn faster if they are having fun and it keeps them from getting bored wth the same old obedience routines. Often, if you identify what your pet already has an aptitude for, you can develop on that. Does your pet use his/her eyes or his/her nose more? And when I say PET I mean that cats can often learn to do many of these things too, it just usually takes more time and practice to convince a cat that this really IS fun! Below are some ideas to get you started:


Names of family members/pets: "Where's ________? Go find ________!"

Find it - teach a "sit" and "wait" while you go hide the item, then come back and release with, "OK! Go Find _____!" Start with the item close - even in the same room, and help her.

Find a person - teach a "sit" and "wait" while someone hides, and release with, "OK! Go find ______!" Or, if the person you want your dog to find is YOU, then, after you have hidden, call your dog! (your dog may need help in "waiting", at first, with another person holding her.

Hide & Seek

Catch - start with popcorn first, because it is light

Frisbee - start with dog close, first

Pick up your toys (and put them away!)

Walk between legs while you are walking (weaving in and out) - just one of the many Freestyle moves you can teach your dog!

Jump through a hula-hoop

Tricks: Give me 5
            roll over
            sit up
           play dead ("bang!")
           treat on nose
           speak
           high 5
"Touch" - teach touch with his nose. "Touch" the palm of my hand, "touch" the tip of a stick - this is the start of "target training".

You can make obstacles and create an "agility" course with things found around most homes: broomstick on the rungs of 2 chairs to create a jump, weave in and out of dowels stuck in the ground (about 18" apart) or ski poles, pause "box" with an old rug, jump through an old tire (the original agility tire jump!), kids' play tunnels can be found at toy stores...

Unroll a small rug. Roll it up and put a soft treat in the last couple of *rolls*. as your pet gets better at unrolling the blanket or rug to find the treat. Bury it deeper into the rolls until your pet can completely unroll the blanket or rug. They *find* their own reward by unrolling it!

Wave *bye bye*. Once you have taught your pet to "shake hands", you can utilize that for teaching them this trick. Hold a treat where they can see it and move your OTHER hand in a waving motion in front of their body. They will see this as *shake* and give you their foot. Keep waving your hand up and down until their foot follows your hand, then tell them GOOD BOY (or girl) and give them the treat. After practicing this several times they shyoudl start to *wave* their foot for you when given the command WAVE BYE BYE.

Tips to Increase Confidence

One thing I see (or hear of) a lot of in our training classes are owners over emphasising "It's OK' to their pet when they are afraid of something. All you do with that is tell them that, in fact, it is NOT ok and it makes them even more afraid. Our pets look to us for safety and comfort when they meet something that they are fearful of. Telling them it's Ok when it isn't, is a good way to teach your pet not to trust your judgement. Here are some simple *rules* in helping your pet to become more confident. 

NEVER tell dog it is OK when it is not


Emphasis on appropriate praise for appropriate behavior

PATIENCE, CONSISTENCY

Remove emotion, especially disappointment or anger!

Favorite treat and/or toy reserved for stressful times ONLY

"Strangers" should have special treats (they are "treat dispensers")

Obedience commands work to get dog thinking rather than reacting

Normal, matter of fact tones of voice conveys confidence

Teach a "watch me" command – watching you will keep your dog safe

Exposures to new things should be carefully planned, timed & supervised

ON LEASH when challenging situations happen

Backsliding is expected and prepared for

Teach thinking games at home: names of family, toys, places, objects...

Prevent hiding & cowering away from fearful things

Use a word or phrase in place of "It's OK" ("Oh, you're being SILLY!"). Use your matter of fact tone of voice to cue the dog to something OTHER than the fearful object or situation ("sit", "watch me", etc)

"Let's say hi" is a good phrase to cue your dog to interacting with strangers, and have plenty of tasty treats & jolly praise handy!

"Look" is good for introductions to potentially fearful objects, along with a jolly, confident attitude

Nipping in puppies

One of the biggest tools puppies have to learn with is their mouth - not only for vocalization, but to touch and feel and explore…and test their limits. Think about a litter of puppies playing. They are rough and tumble - they bite, nibble, and bark. If one puppy bites another too hard, the bitten puppy lets out a screech which usually is successful in getting the hard nipper to temper his bites. This is how puppies learn. A big part of learning isdong it wrong (so they can lern to do it right).


Puppies will test their limits with you, too. Nipping and mouthing is a big part of that testing. They mouth and grab hands, pant legs, skirts, etc. Part of how you teach a puppy to temper their biting lies back with how his litter mates taught him - a shrill shriek OUCH! to let him know he’s gone too far - even if it didn’t hurt that much. One thing that you are responsible for training this puppy - that should start early- is that under no circumstances should that puppy’s teeth ever come down on your skin hard enogh to leave a mark. They CAN learn to be gentle.

Ways to teach your puppy or dog to *be nice*:

I like the word "nice" or "easy" when I teach a dog to respect my skin. If my puppy gets wild and nippy, I will take his collar, after I let out a big "Ow!!", and give it a little tug and offer my hand back to the puppy and tell him, in a firm voice, "BE NICE!" If the puppy nips again, I repeat the command and tug a little firmer, "I said "BE NICE!" If the puppy licks your hand, sniffs it, or turns his head away, I tell him "GOOD NICE!!" and make sure my voice sounds pleased.

You can also "set up" teaching "NICE" to your dog. I get a bunch of small, soft treats and hold one in the fingers of one hand. In the other hand - I have the puppy’s collar, and he is sitting close to me. I offer the treat to the puppy and remind him that we are being "NICE". If he lunges for the treat, I give him a tug on his collar and remind him, "NO, NICE!" The same goes if he grabs the treat and any part of my hand or fingers. Remember NOT to move the hand that holds the treat. If you move the hand holding the treat you actually encourage your puppy to chase the treat. With this exercise, your puppy will eventually learn to take the treat without even touching your skin with his teeth.

Don't *teach* biting to your puppy
Never play hand games that will excite your puppy and encourage him to lunge for your hand. Chase games, especially for herding dogs will also encourage them to nip and bite at legs and heels. Not good! The best games to play are games involving fetch and toys. Any time you play with your puppy, make sure that you have a toy between you and the puppy. Never play tug of war with your puppy - that will only make your puppy think of himself as your equal.

Service Dog graduation!

Congratulations to the graduates of our first Service Dog Level 1 class!

December 4th found our Service Dog Class working at the Fashion Mall on Keystone to do their Public Testing. We worked in and out of various stores, finding different floor surfaces to work and test on. One of our dogs, Sophie, found that she liked the hardwood floors to lay down on because of the cooler surfaces, but prefered the carpeting to walk or sit on.

We also needed to show that our dogs could *shop* in tight places without knocking things over.  Believe me getting a young Goldendoodle to be able to do this takes a LOT of work. Kudos to Sophies owners Anita and J.D. Dudley for working so hard with Sophie over the past year to bring her successfully to this point.

The dogs also need to be able to sit and wait quietly, without sniffing the merchandise or becoming overly distracted, while the handler/owner is doing their shopping. Lugnut shows how well he can do this for his owner Jeff while testing at Bed Bath and Beyond.

When training and testing with the Service Dogs they need to become familiar with shopping carts. They have to learn to walk with the owner/handler, turn with them with the cart and even back up without becoming confused, upset or out of control. Here you can see just how well Shawn with her dog Sophie; and Jeff with his dog Lugnut have trained and learned how to handle shopping with carts.

We tested on the elavators (Kudos to Jeff and Lugnut as Lugnut was also able to touch the elevator button to call open it!) which all three passed without issue. While walking through out the mall we called upon a couple of other shoppers to help us test them with other issues. They needed to stay laid down with a stranger stepping over them and not move, they also needed to stay sitting while a stranger petted them. Of course that was the best part for the dogs! Who doesn't like to be petted! We had plenty of opportunity for them to remain in control and focused even with children approaching them as there were kids galore in the mall shopping with their families. I am happy to report all three dogs passed these tests with flying colors!

Once we completed the mall tests, we moved on to phase two of the night's testing. Dinner out! I wanted to choose a place that had action, without being TOO disturbing for us or the dogs, yet plenty of opportunity for the dogs to be put to a real test. As you can see with the following two pictures both Sophies tested excellant (so did Lugnut, in fact he slept through the entire meal!) at dinner. They needed to be able to remain out of the way, not bother anyone while they were eating and not focus on or disturb the other patrons. Not only during the meal, but while we walked in and out of the restaurant. For this test I chose Claddagh's Irish Pub (thank you Claddaghs for welcoming us!).

The dogs all three were put to a true test, not only by the smell of our dinners, but with other people coming and going, or our servicing staff taking excellant care of our needs, but there was also a young girl who (once completing her own meal) took to bouncing back and forth across the floor from our area back to her families table. Not once did our dogs break their positions from under or close to their tables!

CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATING SERVICE DOGS

LEVEL 1

Sophie Dudley, Lugnut Day and Sophie Roberson

At what age should training start?

Formal obedience training - puppy training in a class situation - can begin at 8 weeks of age. At Best Friends our *rules* are as soon as they have had their first two puppy shots and a bordatella they are ready to rock!


TRAINING of your puppy - the stuff you teach them at home - should start the day you bring your puppy home. Training at this stage should be done in many little lessons, in short spans of time (5-10 minutes per session). Puppies always learn better if you keep training light and fun so watch the tone of your voice as well.

Puppies and dogs learn from the instant they are born. At first their world is small and their learning comes from their mother, other littermates. By the time they are weaned and sent on their way to new homes, they have learned many things. Hopefully, they have had a good foundation set for future learning.

Learning is built on many factors:

Socialization - positive exposure to many different people, animals, environments, surfaces, situations, sounds, etc, and teaching the pup how to best react to new things

Innate personality - the set type of personality that all animals and people are born with.

In-home work with potty training, crate training, leash & collar training, teaching appropriate stuff to chew on, your household routine, words, basic home manners.

Training classes (Best Friends has an on going rotating schedule of classes!) - where you teach your puppy the essentials of obedience commands, manners, and ability to do everything with the distraction of other people and dogs.

Potty training basics in any age

It is an undeniable fact that our pets have to go potty. Puppies especially come to us with a basic thought, *If I have to, then I have to.* This pertains to eating, sleeping (ever see a pup fall over asleep in mid-play?), play AND going potty! Puppies do not understand anything more than that. It's up to us to develop that level of understanding to make life with a puppy fun not troublesome. Humans are the ones with all the rules, not them. Puppies are simply happy to take care of their needs the way they already know.
The most successful potty training methods consist of four steps:
1. Confinement
2. Training
3. Timing
4. Praise

Confinement
Puppies (or dogs who have never been housebroken) need to be confined in order to facilitate the easiest potty training. The most effective place to confine is in a crate or cage. In the beginning, don't leave anything on the bottom of the crate (blanket, newspaper, etc.). Your pet make make a project out of destroying it. Most dogs do NOT want to eliminate where they live, therefore the crate needs to be just large enough for your pet to turn around, stand up comfortably, or lay down. Anything larger will encourage your pet to potty at one end and sleep in the other. For large pets or puppies who will growto big big, use a crate that is sized for a larger pet and partition it to a smaller size using a homemade insert or a crate insert made by the crate company to fit your crate.

Training and Praise
When I teach a new dog (or puppy) where to potty, I use a leash. Leashes keep your dog close to you, where you can supervise and control everything that happens. Puppies, especially, are easily distracted. A blowing leaf, new flower, stick, another animal - all can take a puppy's mind off the matter at hand. If you are near the puppy (or dog) with the leash in hand, a gentle tug will redirect away from the curiosity. Leashes are also good to help teach an area to potty (behind the garage, etc.). With a leash, you just take your pet to the exact same area every time. Our pets are creatures of habit. they will learn to use the same spot if so directed in training.

I also teach words for elimination. This way, when the puppy understands what the words mean, he will understand WHAT I want as well as WHEN I want it to happen. My words are "go potty" for urination and "go poopie" for defecation. Your choice can be ANY word or phrase you want to use consistently (such as, hurry hurry, do your business, get busy, etc.). Remember when you choose your word or phrase that you will be repeating it over and over. Don't keep changing your words or you will just confue them so pick a phrase or a word that you are comfortable using.

As I take my dog outside on a leash, I start to teach him the word outside. "Let's go OUTSIDE!". "Do you have to go "OUTSIDE"? In time, the dog will learn that the word OUTSIDE is associated with going potty. Eventually you will be able to ask the dog "do you have to go OUTSIDE?" and get a response like barking, running to the door or tail wagging.

TIMING
The command or phrase should never be said in a firm or angry way and not in a soft or pleading way either - it is usually said in an encouraging tone. When elimination occurs, use a happy tone and repeat "GOOD Go Potty! Yay! Go Potty!". I choose to use words only to reinforce elimination, because petting or treats can interrupt the act. Verbal praise needs to happen DURING the act, not after! Usually dogs will urinate first, then defecate. You need to become familiar with your dog's habits so you can wait for defecation and use a command for it.

PAWS4VALOR

PAWS4VALOR
Service Dog Training Program
For Disabled Veterans

Lugnut is a 17 mnth old Golden Retriever who

is in a current Service Dog class.

Trainer Kristi Rush, at Best Friends Pet Care in Castleton has designed a new program (Called PAWS4VALOR) to help our returning Veterans with disabilities.

The classes are designed to help returning Veterans who have the need, and are interested in working with their own dog, to train their dog to assist them in specific needs, based on their personal disability. The dogs can be trained as a handicap assistant or as an emotional/mental needs dog (for PTSD or depression)

One of his objectives is to turn the

light on or off as directed

Each *team*(team being the Veteran and his/her dog)will need to commit to no less then 5 obedience classes, maybe more depending on their rate of learning and the needs of the dog. They will then need to commit to as many classes as needed to get their dog fully certified as their personal Service Dog. Each team will need to train for and learn no less then 3 objectives.

We at Best Friends will help them to find the right personality for their dog (their choice of mixed breed or pure bred. We will assist them in their training through our classes. We will be available for problems, advice, or any questions the Veteran may have during this process. We will assist the Veterans/team in getting their Service Dog vests, Federal I.D. cards, and other items needed for public access training. Best Friends will also be able to provide their final Certification test.

He has also learned to pick up items

that have been dropped

Our goal in this new program will be to help the Veterans develop a long lasting bond with their own dog, give the returning Veterans a new focus and commitment to life, with the end result being; a fully trained Service Dog to help them with their personal needs.

And to bring back the items

that were dropped.

Best Friends will be offering these classes to Veterans at a reduced rate based on the number of classes they take.

Federal funding may be available to help qualified Veterans pay for the training classes.

Who's the boss?

WHO'S THE BOSS?

It SHOULD be you!

Isn't it cute when a pet brings you his toy to play with, or nudges your knees for attention? Don't you find it hard to resist rewarding your pet with a cuddle when he pounces on your lap?
If you answer "yes" to these questions, you are doing your pet a disservice by teaching him to be "Leader of the Pack," and this can lead to problems down the road.
A pack can only have one leader, and in the dog world you're either the leader or the follower."

All dogs are born with a "pack instinct" that helps them determine where they stand in the family or group. When a dog enters your home, he expects to follow rules and obey the leader, who he should recognize as you. It is imperative that your pet learn his rank within your family's pack immediately. Dogs that know their place in the social hierarchy are generally content to maintain that position, and are more comfortable and secure.
The degree of self-confidence your dog possesses will guide your behavior. If you've got a timid little one you've got to let him win a few games. But if you've got an adult who's regularly challenging you, he's got to know his place.

There are several subtle ways to teach a puppy its place in the pack:
1) Make him move -- establish territory control. Don't walk around your dog if he's lying in your path - nudge him out of the way and force him to move for you. Similarly, don't allow your pet to go through doors before you.2) No access to furniture unless invited - this is your territory. Being allowed on your bed or couch is a privilege that must be earned (by being well-behaved and house-trained, of course).3) You eat first - in the wild, the pack leader always eats before the rest of the pack. Enjoy your meals, then feed your dog.4) No free rides - the puppy needs to learn that everything in his world is controlled by you, and anything he receives must be earned - including your affection and attention. Ask him to perform simple commands such as sitting before eating, and enforcing the "down-stay" while you clip on his leash.

Exposing your pet to as many people and situations as possible will reinforce his place among humans. Teach him to sit while you're greeting people, and praise him for friendliness. Teach your pet right from the start how to behave around children, and let him know that he is below them in the hierarchy.
If a dog's place in his pack is not determined from the outset, he may eventually challenge you for the leadership position. He can be manipulative, demanding and possibly aggressive. It is difficult to alter this behavior once a puppy has grown, so asserting your place as the "alpha dog" while the pup is young is advantageous. It's also easier to put a pushy puppy in his place than a full-grown adult dog.
Just like humans, all dogs need limits and have to follow rules. One of the keys to a good relationship is respect. Set boundaries, be firm, and offer rewards, including love and kindness. You'll find you'll both be happier.

Home made dog treat recipes

As a dog trainer for Best Friends Pet Care, I do not train with treats. I want them to be consistent by command not by cookie. However that's not to say we can't ever give them a treat. We just need to make them EARN it. Work with them for your training session, get your time and training in and then give them a treat. A treat, not 6 or 7!

As a pet owner, I too give my dogs treats. (not for training!). I would prefer to go as natural as possible. I like to know what it is that's going in to them just as much as the next conscientious pet owner. I've compiled a list of home made dog treats for all discernible tastes. I hope you AND your pets enjoy them. (they make wonderful holiday gifts too, bake up a pan and make up a doggie cookie tray)

Liver Bread
Here is a recipe that's quick, easy, cheap, keeps well, etc. and dogs LOVE it.
· 1 lb of any kind of liver, pureed
· 1 cup of any kind of flour
· 1 cup of corn meal
· 2 Tbsp of Garlic powder (amount optional)
· 1 Tbsp of oil
Puree the liver and mix in the other ingredients. Spread on a cookie sheet or jellyroll pan (I line a pan with foil and oil it). Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes. Cool and break in pieces. I divide into bags and freeze. It thaws very quickly or the dogs will eat it still frozen. They care not.

Tuna Training Treats
· 2 6-oz. cans tuna in water, do not drain
· 2 eggs
· 1 to 1 ½ c. flour (rice flour is best, but any kind will do)
· 1 Tbsp. garlic powder · parmesan cheese
Mash tuna and water in a bowl with a fork to get clumps out, then liquefy in blender or food processor. Add extra drops of water if needed to liquefy completely. Pour into bowl and add flour and garlic powder; consistency should be like cake mix. Spread into greased or sprayed pan; I find that a round pizza pan or square cake pan is perfect. Sprinkle with LOTS of parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes; edges will pull away and texture will be like putty. Use a pizza cutter and slice into teeny squares. These freeze beautifully, and the dogs love them...and, no liver to mess with!

Go Bananas Treats
· 3 cups oatmeal
· 1 1/4 cups flour
· 2 eggs
· 1/4 cup oil
· 1/2 cup honey
· 1/2 cup milk
· 2 mashed bananas
Blend liquid ingredients, eggs and mashed bananas, making sure to mix well. Add flour and oatmeal. Mixture will be similar to cake mix. Spread into a well-greased pizza pan and bake at 325 degrees for about 25 minutes. Cut into tiny squares or strips using a pizza cutter. Keep refrigerated; store unused in freezer. The Scotties give these two paws up!!!

Turkey Treats
· 1 lb. ground turkey (pure turkey, NOT turkey sausage)
· 1 cup oatmeal
· 1 egg
· parmesan (I used 1/2 cup)
· garlic powder
Mix all ingredients together using hands and pat into a greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Cool *thoroughly*, then cut into thick strips (these do not hold together when slicing into small squares); freeze unused portions and keep the portions you're using refrigerated. Has the consistency of meatloaf.

Peanut Butter Treats
· 2 tablespoons corn oil
· ½ cup peanut butter
· 1 cup water
· 1 cup whole wheat flour
· 2 cups white flour
Preheat oven to 350°. Combine oil, peanut butter and water. Add Flour 1 cup at a time, then knead into firm dough. Roll dough to ¼ inch thickness and cut with small bone shaped cookie cutter. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes. Makes 2½ dozen.

Dog Cookies
· 3 cups whole wheat flour
· 2 small cans dog food or cat food
· 1 egg
· 1 ½ to 2 cups liquid (I make sure it isn't to dry or to wet so you may have to make your own judgment as to how much liquid to use. I also use left over gravy or broth as the liquid).
PreHeat oven to 375 degrees. Stir together all ingredients and drop by spoonful on greased cookie sheet. Bake for 12-14 minutes. These can be stored in refrigerated and also frozen.
After these are cooled down I cut them into small pieces with kitchen shears then put them in freezer bags and store in the refrigerator.

Fun dog facts

I'm always telling our clients at Best Friends, when working with your dog you need to keep it light and fun. Your pet will learn faster and be more receptive to the learning process if you keep it light. Make it too serious and that turns to stress and then they shut down their brains OR develop *bad habits* out of that stress. In keeping with the *light and fun* business of training, here are some fun dog facts :

Rin Tin Tin was the first American dog movie star and signed his own contracts for 22 movies with a pawprint.

Toto's role in The Wizard of Oz was played by a female Cairn Terrier named Terry.

In the late 1800's, Lassie type Collies were known as Scottish Sheepdogs.

George Washington had 36 foxhounds, and one was named Sweetlips.

Former President Lyndon Johnson howled with his favorite dog, Yuki, a stray rescued by his daughter, Luci, at a Texas gas station. He also had two Beagles named Him and Her.

Teddy Roosevelt's pit bull, Pete, once ripped off a French ambassador's pants at a White House event.

Franklin D. Roosebelt once spent $15,000 to have a destroyer return to the Aleutian Islands and retrieve his Scottie, Fala, who had been accidentally left behind.

Davy Crockett's dog was named Sport.

Zorba, an English Mastiff, is the heaviest dog on record, weighing 343 lbs at the age of 8 in 1989.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the smallest dog on record was a Yorkshire

Terrier in Great Britain who, at the age of 2, weighed just 4 ounces.

The longest lived dog, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, was an Australian Cattle Dog, named Bluey, who lived to be 29.

The first living being to travel in space was a small mixed breed dog named Laika, who gave her life orbiting the earth in the Russian Sputnik in 1957.

John F. Kennedy's terrier, Charlie, sired 4 puppies with Laika's daughter, Pushinka.

The Lundehund breed has 6 toes and can close its ears.

Dalmation puppies are pure white at birth.

Chihuahuas are born with a 'molera', or 'soft spot' like a human baby, which usually closes as they mature.

Dogs do not have an appendix.

An adult dog has 42 teeth.

The only sweat glands a dog has are between the paw pads.

A dog's normal body temperature is 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

If none are spayed or neutered, a female dog, her mate, and their offspring can produce 67,000 dogs in 6 years.

The most successful mountain rescue dog ever was a St Bernard, named Barry, who lived during the early 1800's and saved 40 lives.

A 12 lb Yorkshire Terrier named Oliver once defended an elderly woman from an 80 lb Akita. The woman escaped to safety and the Yorkie survived with only nine stitches.

A German Shepherd guide dog, named Orient, led her blind hiker the entire 2100 mile Appalachian Trail.

The Basset hound made famous in the Hush Puppies shoe commercials was named Biggles.
Biggles' grandson, Mr. Jeffries, earned fame as the dog with the longest ears in the world. His ears measured 11 and ½ inches each and he often tripped over them.

Tia, a 2 year old Neopolitan Mastiff gave birth to the world's largest litter in 2005. She delivered 24 puppies by Cesarean section. Twenty of them survived, setting another record of the most surviving puppies.

The world's tallest dog was a Great Dane from Sacramento named Gibson. He measured 7 feet when standing upright.

Andrew Larkey of Sidney Australia, walked 11 dogs at once on leash for one kilometer.

Twelve veterinary science students from the University of Sydney set a record bathing dogs when they scrubbed 848 dogs in eight hours.

The real hero of the 1925 Serum Run was really Togo. The 12 year old husky led his sled dog team through 260 miles of blowing Alaskan blizzard to deliver emergency diphtheria serum to Nome. Balto received most of the fame because he led the final 55 miles.

The first search and rescue dog on the scene of the World Trade Center disaster on September 11. 2001, was Bear, an 11 year old Golden Retriever. He began recovery efforts immediately, working 18 hour days in the beginning.

Endal, a yellow Lab, helped rehabilitate a Gulf War veteran. He also saved Allen's life, when Allen was struck by a car and knocked from his wheelchair, unconscious. "Endal pulled him into the recovery position, covered him with a blanket and grabbed his cell phone. After no response, he walked to a nearby hotel and raised the alarm.


Courtesy of SUITE101.com

Service Dog Hero

Since we have a Service Dog Training Class at Best Friend's, and this is one thing we can train someones dog to do for them if needed, I thought you might find this article interesting....

We've all seen the "I've fallen, and I can't get up!" commercials and chuckled, but what if you actually did fall and weren't able to get up? What if you couldn't even push a button to call for help? What would you do? That's the situation Scottsdale, Arizona resident Joe Stalnaker found himself in this past weekend, and thankfully someone else -- his dog -- was there to help him .

Joe suffered a head injury during military training ten years ago, and has had crippling seizures ever since. He adopted his dog Buddy at the age of just eight weeks, and trained the now 18-month-old German Shepherd to check on him and to press a button on the phone to dial 911 in case of an emergency. Over the weekend when Joe suffered a seizure that left him unable to move, Buddy made the call. Amazingly, this is the fourth time since Joe has owned him that he's managed this feat.

(If you do have a disability of some kind and have the need for a Service Dog to help you or someone you know even please give Best Friends Pet Care a call, (317) 841-8182. We CAN help you!)

Dog Calls 911, Saves Owner's Life
by Tim Stevens (RSS feed) — Sep 16th 2008 at 2:57PM

Best Friends Adult level training class

Welcome to our Adult Class. I can't label this one a *basic* or beginners class because we do happen to have a few more advanced ones in this class as well. Those who are at an advanced level have taken our beginners class already and are working toward going off leash and to hand signals. Though mixing the levels may seems little unorthodox to some, I think it is a good thing because it gives all those beginners hope for their future as well! This was week 3 in this class, and as you can see Patrick is not exactly feeling stressed by all the learning he has to do.

With the beginners in this class they are working on step three to the heeling on leash work.

We also have been working on getting them to SIT and LEAVE IT. Brandi is doing his best to learn this for his mommy!

With week three they are also beginning to learn the DOWN command. Which is easier for some dogs then it is for others. Emma Grace looks like she has it down *pat*.
One of the other things that we begin with training on in week three is the DOOR MANNERS. With our beginning Adults it is done differently then our advanced students, but hey we all have to start some place!

In our advanced Adult class we have a few that are working off leash part of the time. Their commands are all being worked to switch from voice to hand signals. These are dogs that have taken a few classes with us already and are working their way to go as far as they can in their obedience. Hey a well trained dog makes for a happy dog! It makes the owners happy too as you can see by Bonnie as she works her dog Amber.

One of our advanced level Adults proves that even a pet with a slight physical disability can be as well mannered as any one else. Harley (owner by one of our customer service girls Caitlin) has a disability with his back legs. We make a few accommodations for this but otherwise Harley is keeping right up there with everyone else. So his SITS aren't perfectly straight...at least he
sits when told. We aren't trying to turn our pets into little furry robots anyway!

Emma Grace has had some training already but her mom wanted a refresher course and for her to learn the things she hadn't learned yet so we can get Emma ready for her CGC testing. Go Emma Grace!

Each dog has its own rate of ability in the learning curve so one may pick up heeling faster then the next where one may learn to sit a lot faster. The important thing for each owner to remember is PATIENCE, LOVE, and COMMITMENT. It will get you through the worst days and keep you focused on the good ones. And face it, our pets all have brains, they have the ability to think for themselves and sometimes, even out think us! There WILL be good days and bad days with them. The best you can do for them is to not give up, focus on the bigger picture and keep working with them. Our methods here are tried and true. Once you've gotten your pet to the point of training you want to reach with them (with us the skies the limit!) both of you will be happy and better for it.

Have your pet trained while they board with us!

I'd like to introduce you to our Board and Train option. If you have specific *needs* you want your pet to learn or improve upon and you're going to be out of town for a week or two this is certainly something you need to consider. While you are gone leave your pet with Best Friends Boarding and let me work with them while you're gone.

At this time I'd like to introduce Beau Potter. He is one of our returning B&T boys. Beau has been coming to stay with us for a long time. He started off as a puppy and has grown with us through the years. His level of obedience work has grown under our tutelage as well.

Beau started off learning his basic commands on leash, but as you can see here Beau is now working off leash. He is truly good enough if the owners wanted, he would do excellent in Obedience Competition. Beau heels on and off leash, he will sit, lay down, and sit up again, on and off leash, by either voice command or by using hand signals. He will come when called........

And has learned to execute a perfect *finish* to his recall, off leash.

And off course it's not all hard learning here! When Beau completes his training sessions with me and has done well (as he always does for me) he gets a good old fashioned BELLY RUB! Ahhh yes...life truly IS good here at Best Friends Pet Care!

It has taken time and training for Beau to come as far as he has but it's all well worth the effort to have a well trained, nicely mannered pet. How far your pet can go will depend on how much time and training you want to invest in them.

If you're going to be out of town for the up coming holidays, or any other length of time give Best Friend's a call. ( 317-841-8182) I'd be happy to discuss the Board and Train program we have here. It's one of our wonderful options in training that we have here.

Welcome to our Training Blog

I've been training with animals (dogs and horses) for many years. In my background I've trained dogs for myself and others for Obedience Competition, for Tracking, Water Rescue, Confirmation, Agility and more recently our Service Dog program.

With Best Friends, we hold an on going rotating basis of advancing levels in Obedience classes. We begin with our Puppy Kindergarten classes (which I happen to LOVE because the puppies never fail to make us laugh and feel good) and run up through Adult Basic 1 to several levels of Adult Advanced classes. The classes all run for 6 weeks and in them we learn things like Heeling on a leash (yyeaahh no more being dragged from here to Kingdom-Come!), sit, lay down, stay, come when called and we work on a Leave It command and on door manners. We also hold a question and answer period at the end of each class, where if you are having particular problems at home with your pets, I can give you ways of working to correct those at home. My job is mainly to teach YOU how to train your pets and to make sure you both are getting it all put together in the right way. I keep my classes to a smaller number so that I can work with each one of you individually to meet your pets specific needs/tasks. By the end of 6 weeks, if you and your pet work together you will have a great foundation to keep working on. Not to worry though, I never leave you at the door when class is done. Whether it's at the end of the night or the end of the 6 weeks, if you have problems call our center! I'm available to help with your issues.

I have a new class running now that has become a favorite of mine. It's our Service Dog class. For those who have a physical or emotional need for a companion animal to assist them in their daily tasks, we can help you to train your own dog. There are certain guidelines we have to follow in pets who can train to do this. For instance if you need help in getting out of your chair or bed a Maltese won't work. At the same time if you need more of an emotional assistant perhaps a Shibu Inu wouldn't be your best choice.

We have 3 dogs in the current class and we are into our 7th week of training. Not only are they learning to behave in public, but they are each learning specific tasks to help their owners. Keep a watch for us out in the malls and local restaurants. If you see is say Hi but please remember, a Service Dog in training is not to be petted!

If you find yourself with a new puppy, an older dog with obedience and manner issues or have the need for a Service Dog please feel free to come by our center at 8224 Bash Street, Indianapolis In and meet with me. If you prefer you can call (317)841-8182 and ask to speak to me. If I am not in feel free to ask when I will be in again or leave a message and I will call you back when I do come in.

If you would like to sit in on a class to see how they run please feel free, I always welcome visitors! Just call us ahead of time to find out about our class schedule.

Best Friends Indy Dog Training Blog

Coming Soon- Best Friends Dog Training Blog!