3 Reasons Dogs Potty in the House | Dog Training Atlanta

Published on February 10, 2015January 14, 2018 by

Housebreaking

It get a lot of calls here at Off Leash K9 Training, Georgia about dogs going potty in the house. This is clearly a stressful thing for all owners and one of the top reason owners get rid of pups. So the following are the main reasons I find for this issue, leaving out the dog has been left to long or occasionally gets an upset stomach and goes in the house.

1. Understanding- So this one is most common in puppies that still don’t fully understand they are doing anything wrong. It can be the case in an older dog that either has been feral for a while, always kept outside, or has been in a humane society/SPCA for a long time. You can find my advice on potty training in 2 weeks (no matter the age) here: Blog- How to Potty Train in 2-Weeks

2. Medical- If a dog that has never had an accident all of a sudden starts to not be able to make it through the night, hold it for hours he use to be able to, or just starts going and even surprises herself please take them to the vet. Where is this usually very old dogs things such as a urinary track infection or many other things can cause this. Note: As I stated at the beginning if it is a one time thing, especially for pooping once, it will likely pass.

3. Dominance/Marking- The only time I really see this one apply to “pooping” is when a new baby is brought home:-) Yes, it is not acceptable but is not uncommon for a dog to poop in a newborns room. The usual issue here is as with most issues that arise in dogs as they age; dominance. Dominance left unchecked leads to many types of aggression, anxiety, food and toy guarding, and marking. This is where obedience comes in, not just “trick training” but true leadership. Dogs want and need leadership to have a safe and confident life and that is what we want to give every owner and pup that comes to Off Leash K9 Training, Georgia.

Exercise Relieves Many Behavioral Issues | Atlanta Dog Trainer

Published on January 3, 2015February 19, 2017 by

I would say at a minimum, half of the dogs that visit Off Leash K9 Training, Atlanta are showing behavioral issues due to lack of exercise (physical and/or mental). This is not necessarily the owners fault. Most of us can not possible walk or run far enough to wear out our high energy pups. But I find the issue to be the owners are not physically able to walk their pup or are just too embarrassed due to their pups leash manners. Be it the constant pulling, lunging at people or other dogs, or just the unpredictability of what they will do when distracted.

Pups that don’t get the mental or physical exercise they need can display a wide range of behavioral issues.

Excessive barking and/or excitement
Escaping enclosures
Destructive chewing
Picking on or annoy other pets/family members

Medium and high energy dogs need a job. If you don’t provide one, they will make it their job to bark at everything that moves, chew on your prized possessions, escape the crate or kennel you’ve asked them to stay in, and so on. They will find their own outlets for their energy.

Off leash obedience opens up an entire world for you and your dog to experience the joys and benefits of proper amounts of exercise. Every grass field becomes a playground for you and your dog – no more waiting for a trip to the local fenced dog park. Hiking trails at local parks become an enjoyable walk for you and an energy-burning trek for your dog when they’re allowed to run ahead and romp versus pull at the leash. Walks become more enjoyable without risk of being pulled down or dislocating an arm at the sight of a distraction.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZrZIkT9GIc?rel=0&w=560&h=315]

We can give you the confidence to throw the ball and take your pup to the park with a confident recall no matter the distraction.

www.offleashatlanta.com
Facebook Page
[email protected]
770.450.0988

Dog Park Alternatives for Socialization | Georgia Obedience Training

Published on January 3, 2015December 11, 2017 by

Off Leash K9 Training, Georgia

Call: 770-450-0988

Email: [email protected]

I cringe every-time my clients start a sentence with “So we were at the the dog park”!

At best they say how annoyed they were that no one was paying attention to their own dog and some dog kept mounting theirs…

But more often than not such and such happened resulting in a dog fight. Now their pup is extremely fearful or aggressive with other dogs.

Note: The most incorrect statement I hear is “I got (2-57) dogs so they could play together and be socialized”. My constant response to this is “If the only people you ever saw and interacted with were your spouse and kids would you be “socialized”?

I am only speaking for Off Leash K9 Training, Atlanta but we do NOT recommend dog parks as a way to socialize your dog.

Pack Mentality with strange dogs is not what you want.
- In large groups of “uncontrolled” dogs, they will try to establish pack order.
- The rush when entering the park is overwhelming to many pups.
- Just being in the crossfire when other dogs get in a fight.
- Your pup may think the pack is a threat to you and become protective.
- A lot of owners pay no attention to their pup, therefore have zero control.
Human emotion: There will always be one owner that you’ll find chasing their uncontrollable dog from one end of the park to the other, screaming at it to behave. Others see a pitbull, doberman, rottweiler, german shepherd, or are just fearful of large pups. This can bring a lot of unneeded anxiety to the equation. Adding the human emotion element can create a ticking time bomb from even a relatively stable pack.

SO what is the solution and alternatives to dog parks?

The solution is simply, smaller groups of controlled dogs with more supervision.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDC0_twdAjg?rel=0&w=560&h=315]

Alternatives:

Play-dates – Dogs can have play-dates just as kids do. Less dogs with more supervision.
Doggie Daycare – This one comes with a caveat, the daycare needs to have a sufficient amount of “competent” handlers to divide up and supervise dogs.
Pet Friendly Stores – Proper socialization is not just with other dogs but with people and strange locations. Lots of home improvement store such as Lowes, Home Depot, and Tractor Supply allow dogs (call to ensure your local location does). These are not about running into other dogs but experiencing different environments and people.

If your dog has been in a dog fight and is showing signs of fear or aggression please seek help as soon as possible. The longer you allow this change in personality to go on the longer it will take to correct. Proper obedience training will built confidence while showing your pup you will protect them in any situation.

www.offleashatlanta.com
Facebook Page
[email protected]
770.450.0988

Notes on our E-Collar | Off Leash K9 Training, Atlanta

Published on December 27, 2014February 19, 2017 by

I believe the hardest thing for my new clients to remember after the first lesson in Smyrna or Peachtree City is all the functions on the remote. While I would rather you remember as much as you can about the actual dog training instead of the minor details such as how to turn the remote on, they are still important.

So I put together a quick reference about what button does what, how to turn off and on, and a few more little things.

Please note we typically use either a 400 series or a 1200 series (posted separately below), the one you have is noted on the back of the remote to the right of the plug as pictured here:

As I will note in the video, please “only” use as directed by your “trainer”, every dog is different!

400 Series Youtube:

1200 Series Youtube:

www.offleashatlanta.com
[email protected]

Is your dog training worth the price?

Published on December 23, 2014February 19, 2017 by

One of the top 3 concerns potential clients ask when they call Off Leash K9 Training, Atlanta is if our training is worth the price?

My answer more often than not is “How many ways would a well-behaved dog make your life easier?”

If that is not enough open a new tab and Google “Off Leash K9 Training Reviews” or “Off Leash K9 Training Youtube”, I am even impressed with these.

Here are a few things that will put the investment in perspective, for not only having your dog trained but having them trained with us:

-All of our lessons are private, one-on-one with you and your dog so we can address your specific concerns. Lots of trainers prices look lower but you will be in a class of 5-10. Your pup will be overly distracted and your trainer will be busy with others to address your issues.

-Dogs are living longer than ever, a investment in obedience has to be thought of as spread out over their lifetime. As you can see in the below chart from the ASPCA, the “annual costs” of having a dog are as high as our training. Now think about 12-16 years of these expenses and how training is one time for LIFE.

-Comparing prices for dog training is not easy considering most trainers don’t list their prices. Why don’t they you may ask? Well first most dog trainers want to know what breed you have and their issue before giving you a price. I will leave it to the readers to determine why that is….

-We GUARANTEE our training! If you do not see a huge improvement in your pup by the end of your first lesson I will refund your money right there! Another thing no other K9 trainer offers.

We believe that training your companion is an investment, of time and money, that will pay dividends for you and your dog for the rest of their life. All of our lessons are private, one-on-one with you and your dog so we can address your specific concerns. We train your dog, but we also train you to be a better handler which helps strengthen your bond built on trust and communication.