Lead the Way

LEAD THE WAY EDUCATION

• We will do a session at a local store to go over some of the following:

  • Proper dog nutrition to know what to look for in your dog's food to make sure they are getting the best nutrition for their age and activity.

  • Treats that I have found work the best for potty training (typically for young pups, but sometimes new dogs need a little guidance at first) and training commands.

  • Which toys will last a long time and keep your dog entertained while you are at work, running errands, taking care of the kids, getting some chores done, or just need a little time for yourself.

  • All the supplies you will need for potty training, keeping them safe while unsupervised, and training.

• Another session will be going over crate training

  • This training is also a great tool for potty training. We will cover proper techniques for introducing your puppy to the kennel so that it is a safe and fun place to be. Think of it as their safe space or bedroom.

  • Crate training is great for keeping your dog safe while unsupervised so they are not able to get into chemicals, chew on electrical wires, or ingest other foreign objects.

• We will  go over a few basic commands to help get you started on training.

  • We will make it fun so that your pup will love to listen to you and you strengthen the bond you two share.

  • These commands will include their name (this will be the start of the "come" command), "sit", "down", "stand", "look" to build eye contact, "drop it" and "leave it."

• We will teach a “release” command.

  • With many commands that are taught, there will be an implied stay associated with it. This means that the dog is not to stop doing what it was told until you give them a new command or a “release.” This will prevent them from getting up as soon as they are rewarded.

  • For example, if you tell your dog to lay down while you are sitting outside of Starbucks enjoying a cup of coffee with friends, they are to remain in that down until they are told otherwise.

• I will also include a few “tricks” such as shake to make training fun for you and your dog. 

  • These tricks may just seem like fun and games, but they have a more valuable purpose. They help to teach communication between you and your dog, build your bond, and make training fun. No one wants to do the same old sit, down, and stand routine.

• I will also go over how to socialize your dog to new people, dogs, items (for example, Halloween decorations) and loud sounds.

  • This socialization is best done in the early months of a dogs life, but is also important for any dog to learn.

• We will also go over how to teach basic manners.

  • This will be done in order to prevent unwanted behaviors such as jumping, biting, and unwanted chewing (on furniture, shoes, garbage).

• I will also explain how to properly socialize your dog.

  • This will be done in order to prevent fear, aggression, and teach your dog how to properly play with others.

  • I will go over how to socialize your dog to new people, dogs, items (for example, Halloween decorations) and loud sounds.

  • This socialization is best done in the early months of a dogs life, but is also important for any dog to learn.

  • Ask me about socialization group classes to pair with your training.

• All commands will also begin being “proofed.”

  • This means we will add various distractions to make sure the commands are reliable in many different scenarios. It is very common for dogs to perform very well at home, but act like they never knew “sit” when they go to the pet store because of the new environment and distractions.