Training Tips Archives • Page 2 of 7 • Three Dogs Training

Want the best dog training class instructor?

The best dog training class instructor will teach humans and dogs alike using science based, force-free, fear-free training.

I have been offering fun and rewarding training classes in the northern Westchester, Putnam, and western Connecticut area for almost twenty-five years.

“Evidence supports the use of reward-based methods for all canine training. AVSAB promotes interactions with animals based on compassion, respect, and scientific evidence. Based on these factors, reward-based learning offers the most advantages and least harm to the learner’s welfare.”
AVSAB Position Statement on
Humane Dog Training

The best dog training class instructor will teach you and your dog to do more than sit, down, stay, wait and the basic commands.

I teach handlers how to communicate with their dogs to help their dogs do the right thing and be the best, happiest dog they can be.

The best dog training sit — Fun and rewards allowed this team to build a perfect and happy focus!

Teaching handlers how to read their dog teaches them how to understand and communicate with their dog.

To help you learn how to communicate with your dog, I will teach you how to read your dog’s body language. Knowing what your dog is signaling will help you teach them and keep them happy and calm. This book by Turid Ruggas is the primer on your dog’s body language, “On Talking Terms with Dogs, Calming Signals.“

We all learn better when we are having fun! Dog training classes should be fun and make everyone happy. There should never be force or fear used to teach.

Dog playing dots and gizmos one of the best training game — Sit/Stay with dots and toys.

The best dog training class instructor will understand that it is so much more fun to proof sit/stay when playing the dots-and-gizmos game.

Evidence shows us, “Why You Need to Reward Your Dog,” by Zazie Todd, PhD.

I want to help my students (humans and dogs) have joy in their training time together.

The best group stay — More dots, more stays, more fun!

For more information on Three Dogs Training’s classes, click the links below.

Two dogs settling after doing their best in class. — A trained dog is a happy dog – and probably a little tired, too 😊

Class location

Dog Training Supply List

This dog training supply list includes your dog’s wearable equipment.

Many dog training tools are specific to training class but most of them will be useful in classes, at home, on walks, and more.

TP is not a dog training supply — Your dog may disagree about what is and is not a training tool. But you will hold firm on no TP.

Collars, harnesses, and leashes.

For most of our dogs, it is good to use the same equipment for walks, hikes, or classes. Occasionally we will use a longer or shorter leash for different activities.

Collars

Flat collar – these are the basic collar everyone thinks of when they think of a collar.
Martingale collar – this collar allows the collar to close just enough to prevent the dog from squiggling out. This is my preferred collar.
I happen to be a fan of the Lupine collars linked above. They are well made (US), guaranteed (even if chewed), and they have loads of nice patterns 😊

Harnesses

Understanding the difference between a back-clip harness and a front-clip harness is critical.

If your dog’s harness has the leash clipping to a d-ring on the dog’s back, this is a back-clip harness. In most cases, this will increase pulling as it engages your dog’s oppositional reflex and they will push their chest against the front of the harness reflexively (they just can’t help it).

A Front-clip harness will have a d-ring on the dog’s chest where the leash will attach.

Front clip harness is a dog training supply

This is a front-clip harness. Notice the leash is attached to the harness on the front of the dog’s chest.

This will reduce the pressure against the dog’s chest and decrease or eliminate the oppositional reflex. This will stop or reduce greatly the pulling battle that often goes on during dog walks.

Here are three well made and reasonably priced front clip harnesses.

Freedom No-pull harness. This fits the best and has a secondary back clip if you want to switch between back and front clipping.
The Easy Walk Harness. This can take some tinkering to get it to fit right. But if it fits your dog, it is a good front-clip harness.
The Sensation harness. This was the first of its kind and still well made and secure.

There are many other front-clip harnesses. I find the ones that have what looks like a breast-plate in the front move side-to-side too much to be effective. The Whole Dog Journal has a nice article outlining many different front-clip harnesses.

Leashes…

There are far too many types, styles, textures, and lengths of dog leashes to list them in this training supply list.

I prefer leather or biothane leases for my own dogs. These materials sit more comfortably in my hand than cotton or nylon. For either, I like three-quarters or five-eights width. For most women, an inch width will not allow the hand to fully close around it. So, the three-quarters or half inch will allow for a more secure hold.

The length of leash will vary. For an average walk in the park, four or six feet is fine. Six will allow you the most flexibility to allow your dog to move away to eliminate. But four is easiest if your dog is playing with other dogs on leash. For hiking or playing in an unfenced area, a longer ten to twenty foot leash will allow for maximum flexibility.

Leather is the softest and sturdiest leash I have found. But it is not waterproof.
Biothane leashes are waterproof and as easy on your hands as leather (they don’t slip or burn). They come in a variety of colors, lengths, and widths.
A subset of these is the multi-leash. This is a leash that has multiple connection points to allow it to transform from a six-foot leash, to a three-foot leash, to a wrap-leash, or even a tie-out.

General Dog Training supply product page

Bad Xylitol, Bad…

Did I mention Xylitol is bad???

It can be in candy, gum (a lot of gum), chewable vitamins, supplements, peanut butter, substitutes for sugar, and even sold in a container that looks like honey as a honey substitute.

So many products like this one below have xylitol listed only in the fine print.

In this label, xylitol is very high on the list…

Read every one of the ingredients in the products you have around the house AND especially items you will be giving you dog.

Remember ingredients are listed in descending order by weight. In other words – biggest first. Xylitol is very high on the list for this product.

Others have done a great job of outlining the toxicity of xylitol in dogs. Here are some excepts from the veterinarian professionals:

Preventive Vet’s article “My Dog Ate Xylitol,” includes some of these warnings:

Dogs rapidly and almost completely absorb xylitol.

Ingestion of greater than 0.1g/kg can result in hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)…greater than 0.5 g/kg may result in acute liver failure.

Xylitol can cause low blood sugar within thirty minutes after ingestion… but may not show initial symptoms for twelve hours…
Preventive Vet, Dr. Beth Turner

Twelve hours is a long time to wait for symptoms to appear for a poison that acts this quickly.

So, if you think your dog has ingested xylitol – call the vet or poison control hotline immediately. A lot of irreversible damage can occur quickly.

VCA Animal Hospitals article “Xylitol Poisoning in Dogs,” includes some of these warnings:

The most common source of xylitol poisoning that Pet Poison Helpline gets calls about comes from sugar-free gum, although cases of xylitol poisoning from other sources such as supplements and baked goods are on the rise. In 2020, Pet Poison Helpline had 5,846 calls involving dogs ingesting xylitol!
VCA Animal Hospitals, Dr,’s Renee Schmid and Ahna Brutlag

Xylitol is too dangerous, too quickly toxic, and too easy to miss.

Reading the label of everything that comes into your house can help you avert tragedy.

Then… research online ahead of time so you know who to call if you suspect your dog has ingested xylitol. Don’t wait until time is running out.

Here is the website and phone number (888) 426-4435) for the ASPCA Poison Control. There may be a charge.

2022 – a new year – a new episode of Pets and Your Health

Pax’e dug up her headphones and is ready to answer questions with Dr. Adams, “Woof!”

To ring in the New Year, I will be talking with Dr. Frank Adams who hosts Pets and Your Health on SiriusXM Dr. Radio.

This a wonderful show (not just because they like me) but because Dr. Adams and his guests address a variety of pet-related topics that help us take care of the pets that make our lives better.

Pets and Your Health broadcasts live this Tuesday January 4, 2022 at 6AM, and again rebroadcasts later that day at 4pm.

If your dog gets you up this early for that pre-dawn walk, tune us in – Channel 110, SiriusXM.

If you are luck enough to sleep in, you can always stream this episode and others on SiriusXM Doctor Radio..

Safe dog and baby snuggling and walking together

Brody and Baby-L – The bond builds and the reports come in

Jessica’s first reports come in:

JDP October 22, 2018, 9:03 am

Things are going well.
This weekend was sweet – I was on the couch giving Logan a bottle when Brody asked to snuggle. He burrowed right in with us, but I had a pillow in between the two just for an extra buffer. Logan was also sleepy and not grabby at that particular moment. Since they were both calm, it was a nice 10 minutes! Then Brody got hot under the blanket and crawled out for some air 🙂

When our dog is calmly snuggled next to us with our body (and even an extra pillow) between dog and baby, we can insure all stays calm and safe as we continue to build their bond.

Trouble passing other dogs…

Because Brody also had some trouble passing other dogs when out walking, we worked on a desensitization and counterconditioning protocol. Taking baby and dog out for a family stroll is a great way to build a positive association – almost like a date night.

Brody walking nicely with his little boy…

JDP October 24, 2018, 8:01 am

One more thing that happened last night that made me explode with pride!
I was walking with Baby-L in the stroller and Brody beside us. A woman with two big, lunging dogs was approaching us. I crossed to the other side of the street to give everyone more space. As I crossed the street, another big dog was in his front yard – he is on an invisible fence and he started barking and running up and down the front yard. We were in the middle of these two.
I did “LOOK AT THAT!!! LOOK AT THAT!!! Those are silly dogs! Hooray!!!” and marched us all right in between all those crazy dogs, and Brody just trotted alongside the stroller – no reaction at all. I heard the lady with the dogs on leash say “Look, you guys – THAT is a good dog.”
Wait a minute. Someone used MY dog as an example of a GOOD DOG!? Once we got past the madness, I had a little party for Brody right in the street. I was so proud of him!
Happy Wednesday!
J

See more about Brody and Baby-L – How this beautiful relationship got started.

See excerpts from Please Don’t Bite the Baby and Please Don’t Chase the Dogs for more safe dog and baby tips.