The trainer I worked with at the time taught me to use the two commands because stay should always mean stay here in this exact position until I return and release you. Wait should always mean wait here until I give you the next command.

Ace is not trained to understand the difference between stay and wait because I have never bothered to give the commands different meanings.

Since I’ve had one dog that was trained to know the difference and one that is not, I can say that it is convenient to train the dog to understand that stay and wait are two different commands – it just takes more work and consistency.

It may sound a bit picky to differentiate between stay and wait, but I would like to train Ace to understand the difference because of these training benefits:

Teaching a dog to wait enforces the stay command

If a dog is told to stay and then told to do something else, he might learn to anticipate the second command and break from the stay position early. This isn’t because he is disobedient. It’s because he’s smart enough to predict what you are going to ask him to do next. This is especially true with owners who tend to practice commands in the same order every time.

If you teach the dog that stay means “stay here until I return and release you,” the pressure will be off and he will understand that all he has to do is stay put. With enough repetitions (and sometimes it takes hundreds), the dog will understand that stay means stay – period.

The wait command is what you would use if you want to tell your dog to wait and then call him once you walk across the room, for example.

Teaching a dog to wait enforces the recall

Using the wait command can help improve getting your dog to come when called.

Some dogs are hesitant to come when called from a stay position since they are often scolded for breaking position too early. Because of this, some dogs need to be called a second or third time. This is because the dogs want to do the right thing, so they wait until they are called a second or third time to make sure it’s what the owner wants. Some owners unintentionally train their dogs to obey a command only after it has been repeated two or three or four times.

If you use the wait command and then call your dog, he can learn that if you tell him to wait there will definitely be a second command to follow. Again, it will take many repetitions to make this clear to the dog.

Teaching a dog to wait helps during agility

Many dogs have a hard time holding still at the start of running an agility course – I know my mutt does! Telling a dog to stay when there’s a good chance he won’t stay will reinforce that the command is optional.

In an agility setting it’s so easy to let the dog get away with breaking from stay too early and run the course anyway. This is especially true in a group agility setting where the students are pressured for time and need to run their dogs quickly so the next person gets a chance.

The wait command is a great option during agility because it teaches the dog to wait for the next command whether it’s jump or tunnel or whatever. Of course, a dog should never get away with breaking from stay or wait too early.

Be consistent when teaching a dog to wait or to stay

I know some people have a hard enough time enforcing their dogs to stay, let alone teaching them the concept of wait. But for those of us who like to perfect training and challenge ourselves and our dogs a little further, using both commands is not a bad idea.

Consistency is always key when teaching a dog any concept.

For me, the biggest challenge is making sure to give my dog a command only if I am able to follow through and enforce it. Every time I tell him to stay or to wait and he does not, I must put him back or he learns that the command is optional.

Be careful that wait doesn’t become a less serious version of stay. I’ve never committed to teaching Ace the difference between stay and wait (until today), but I’ve used both words anyway. This was a mistake on my part. Why use two different words to mean essentially the same thing? That only confuses a dog.

What Ace has learned from my mistake is that “wait” is a less serious version of “stay.” If I tell him to wait, he is much more likely to get bored or distracted and break from position compared to when I tell him to stay. This is my own fault.

You are the one training your own dog and you can decide what each command means. Maybe precision is not as important to you, or maybe you have taught your dog that these two words mean something entirely different than what I am teaching my dog. However you do or don’t define stay and wait to your dog, the most important thing is consistency.

What are your thoughts on teaching “stay” and teaching “wait”?

Related posts:

1. How many words does your dog know?

If you only want to learn a little about gastric dilitation-volvulus, commonly referred to as “bloat” in the dog world, then it is important to learn the signs and symptoms of this condition, above all else.

Bloat occurs when a dog’s stomach fills up with air and makes breathing difficult because of pressure on the diaphragm and other parts of the body. It can also cut off blood to the heart. Many online sources state that bloat is the second leading cause of death in dogs, behind cancer. Bloat can happen to any breed at any time.

Write down the symptoms of bloat on a piece of paper and put it in your wallet, inside a kitchen cupboard or where your dog’s food is stored. You don’t want to be logging on to your computer to see what the signs of bloat are, suspecting Fido has bloat, only to find that your internet isn’t working.

For Glory, the Buoyant Dog’s sake, I have researched the signs of bloat online, spoken with dog owners whose dogs have experienced bloat, and I have read stories. I have gathered the following as the primary or most consistent signs of bloat:

Signs and symptoms of bloat in dogs:

- Heavy salivating and/or heavy drooling
- Discomfort, “Dog looks uncomfortable”
- Dog has a “far away look” in its eyes
- Lack of the normal abdominal gurgling and digestive sounds (place ear on abdomen to listen)
- Attempts to vomit, but nothing comes up
- Attempts to vomit, but only foam, slimy drool or mucous is excreted
- Change in behavior, “Dog isn’t acting like usual self”
- Dog wanders off by itself
- Anxiety or restlessness, may be the form of pacing or whining
- A “hunched up” or “arched” appearance
- Abdominal area, or the area around the ribs may look bloated or bulged (may or may not be present)
- Abdominal area, or the area around the ribs may feel tight or expanded (may or may not be present)
- Coughing
- Gums are dark red, or even white or blue
- Shallow breathing in the form of heavy or rapid panting
- Dry heaving
- A drum-like sound when stomach is thumped

With the above symptoms listed, what can dog guardians do now? The following paragraphs include additional recommended tactics, so you are prepared for a bloat emergency.

First of all, become familiar with your dog’s habits and conditions now – while the dog is healthy.

Does Squirt drool a lot to begin with? What does your dog’s stomach normally sound like? Become familiar with the normal gurgling sounds. What does Daisy’s abdomen look like when it is not bloated? A visible “bloating” of your dog’s abdomen is not always present, so thump, touch and feel your dog’s currently healthy body, so you know what is different, should you suspect bloat. Become familiar with your dog’s resting heart rate and breathing rate.

In addition to your regular veterinarian, know where at least two emergency veterinarian clinics are located, and keep their phone numbers and locations copied down, preferably close to the list of bloat signs. Keep directions to these emergency veterinarian clinics in your wallet and their numbers on your cell phone. In an emergency it’s not always easy to remember names or locations of veterinarians.

Keep Extra Strength Gas-X (or a similar brand) on hand in the kitchen, in the car, in your dog first-aid kit, etc. Gas-X can be given to your dog while you are on your way to the emergency veterinarian. Capsules should be broken open and applied orally, so the liquid medicine is quickly absorbed by the dog. Don’t skimp on the Gas-X, as  it contains simethicone, a drug that goes down easily. Even if you give more than the recommended dosage in a suspected bloat situation, it won’t hurt your dog.

If veterinary service is delayed, or if you are waiting for the veterinarian to arrive, take your dog for a brisk walk. Do not run your dog, but this isn’t a walk in the park either. As long as your dog is in the early stages of bloat, a brisk walk can help move gas out of the stomach.

If you will be boarding your dog, or if a dog sitter checks on your dog, update the dog sitter on bloat signs, and leave detailed directions to veterinary clinics. Here is a helpful form to leave for friends, family and dog sitters who might be checking in on your dog.

Lastly, stay calm. At a time like this, your dog needs a calm pack leader. Stressing out will only make your dog’s condition worse. Keep your head, as your dog’s life is depending on your calm, cool and assertive energy. You can use pre-meditation techniques right now to think about the steps you will take in the event you suspect your dog is experiencing bloat.

Know the signs. Know what you are going to do. Don’t wait until later to write down the above signs of bloat. Bloat can develop in minutes, and it can kill in hours.

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People hope for some kind of magical solution or an easy explanation for their dogs’ behavior problems. They also suggest that the dogs misbehave as a way of getting back at them for something.

As convenient as it is to believe a dog does certain things to “get back” at her owner, that is giving the dog way too much credit. Dogs are not capable of plotting against us, and believing otherwise is unfair to the dog.

If there’s not a physical problem (bladder infection, etc.) causing the dog to have “accidents,” the cause is more than likely related to a change in the dog’s routine or a lack of structure to begin with.

If you really think about it, most issues with a dog’s behavior can be traced back to a point where something changed in her routine. Maybe someone in the family took on a second job. Maybe you’ve been traveling a lot or you got a new pet. Maybe your boyfriend moved out or you bought a new house. All of these can be very stressful on a dog.

The unwanted behavior could be caused by something as simple as the weather got colder – or rainier or icier or muddier – and you stopped walking as much. Maybe you’re just stressed about something, and your dog knows it and is also feeling stressed as a result.

A stressed dog will act out of character. She might start showing signs of “separation anxiety” such as crying or howling when left alone. She might start chewing on rugs or going to the bathroom in the house. She might become more territorial, possessive of her owner, more vocal or more aggressive.

All of these issues can be fixed as long as the owner makes the decision to be the one in control. Being the one in control means maintaining a routine for the dog.

What’s the best routine for a dog?

There is no perfect routine for dogs, but they do thrive when they get consistency. Like people, dogs love excitement and adventures, yet it’s stressful for them if they aren’t given leadership and structure.

A dog wants to know where she is expected to rest when her owner is gone, when she will eat and when she will be walked.

Providing a kennel or dog bed

Most dogs do better if they are confined to a kennel, one room or one level of the house while their owners are away. It makes the dog feel better to know, “OK, this is where I’m supposed to be. No pressure.” Even if the dog is allowed full range of the house, she will most likely choose her bed or the couch or a quiet corner to curl up in until her owner returns.

If your dog is going to the bathroom in certain areas of the house, you can try confining her to a different room or blocking off that portion of the house, but kennel training the dog is often a better option.

Dogs need specific meal times

I highly recommend that all dog owners stop “free feeding” their dogs. Dogs want to work for their food, and it should always be used as a reward – not a freebie.

Feeding at specific meal times is one of the easiest ways to enforce leadership and keep the dog’s body on a consistent schedule. If your dog eats the same amount at the same times every day, you’ll know exactly when she needs to go to the bathroom. You’ll also prevent her from becoming overweight or underweight.

Walking the dog daily

If you walk the dog when it’s most convenient for you, you will be more likely to follow through. I’ve started walking Ace in the late afternoon or early evening because I like to relax in the morning. If you like to take it easy after work, then make sure to get the walk taken care of earlier.

We all know that providing enough exercise for our dogs prevents most issues, so it’s important not to slack off on walking. If you have a dog with “separation anxiety,” a consistent exercise routine is an absolute must. Make sure you’re walking her every day for at least an hour. If your dog is suddenly having “accidents,” make sure to walk with her before leaving the house so you can make sure she actually “does her business.”

When it’s colder out, a lot of dogs will not fully relieve themselves or they’ll try to hold it in order to get back inside quicker. This is yet another reason to make sure to walk the dog even in the winter, especially before you are going to be gone.

Specific bathroom times

Some dogs will ask to go outside when they need to. Others will never ask to go out, like my mutt. If you keep your dog on a consistent routine with meals, exercise and bathroom breaks at the same times every day, you’ll know exactly how often your dog will need to go outside regardless of whether or not she lets you know.

What’s included in your dog’s routine?

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One of the problems I deal with frequently is that the dog or dogs in the house only listen to one of the owners or family members and not everyone. There are several possibilities and reasons that this problem occurs, and it is important to fix the structure in the household so that the dog respects, loves and listens to everyone equally.

The first scenario I find is women complaining that the dog does not listen to her like he/she does to her husband.  Often dogs simply respect the tone of the male voice. Men less often “chatter” to their dogs such as “How are you honey?” “You’re such a pretty dog,” “Whatcha doing?” “Who’s my best boy?” etc.

As women, we tend to chat a lot to each other, our friends, spouses or significant others. We want to talk about our feelings and discuss politics. If there is a lull in the conversation we are bred and raised to change the subject and keep things flowing. It is no wonder we have idle conversations with our pets.

There is no problem with talking to your pets, but they don’t speak English, and after a while they tend to tune out our ramblings. Men are less likely to chit chat with their furry family members at random intervals, and if they do they use a commanding tone when they want something which makes dogs listen. We can take some lessons from the men in our lives. If you want something, command it, believe in yourself, and make it happen!

Dogs need consistency

Another reason for our dogs tuning us out is because we are not consistent. Consistency is the most important part of dog training. Again, dogs don’t speak English, and the only way for them to learn is through our consistency and the consistency of people around them. I can’t tell you how many couples I work with that each have their own set of commands.

One person says “go lay down,” the other says “get away,” or “take a break” and the dog has no idea that the commands are all the same. You must use the same commands for the same actions every time and everyone must use them consistently for your dog to be successful.

Only command a dog when you are in control

Another part of consistency is reliability and your control of the situation. I would never give a dog that I could not control a command. I only give a command when I am in control.  If my dog is in the yard I would never tell him to sit, or down, or come unless I knew with 95 percent accuracy that he would obey.

People often give commands that they can’t enforce. If you give a command and your dog does not comply and you cannot control his complicity, he learns that the command means nothing.

I would never tell my dog to come to me if I thought he was not going to or I had no control or no ability to make him come to me. It waters down the word and makes it mean nothing to your dog.  When you give a command, make sure your dog complies!

Enforce the command, help your dog or make your dog listen to you the first time so that your commands are meaningful. I often liken this to unruly children I see in Wal-Mart or out shopping with their parents. You often hear parents saying “Timmy, get down from there, don’t make me come up and spank you. Timmy, I mean it get down here.  Timmy, don’t make me come up there!”

This is an example of a parent who is not consistent. Timmy knows that his parents aren’t likely to make him comply so he continues to ignore them. If my mother told me to do something, I was falling over myself to comply because I knew she would do whatever she threatened. She was a very consistent parent!

Don’t threaten your dog. Help him comply in the beginning with consistency and he will choose good behavior. Consistency is one of the kindest things we can offer our animals and our children. I have to imagine that it is horrifying to never know when your parent or your owner will fly off the handle and get upset at you for something that you have done several times.

Inconsistency is unfair! Make sure you and your spouse use the same commands and that if you give a command you make your dog obey.

Have fun with your dog, but always enforce rules

The other situation I see is the fun parent vs. the enforcer.  Again, this is like raising children; you can’t make an appearance in parenting occasionally or be a friend or a litter-mate and be respected. You must be both the fun parent and the parent who enforces rules.

If the dog ignores one “parent,” the other parent should not step in because this only teaches the dog that “Dad” is the only one he needs to listen to. Dad should ignore it and let Mom correct the behavior. This goes back to being consistent. Decide as a couple what your rules are and everyone has to adhere to those. Anything else is confusing and causes animosity between dog and owner.

No one wants to feel like they are constantly enforcing rules and never enjoying the relationship with the animal. This is just one more reason to utilize positive reinforcement training, because even when you correct a behavior it can be fun for everyone.

Use a commanding voice when you want your dog to obey and remember that sometimes he does tune out our “chatter,” so let him know when you are giving a command. Be consistent by utilizing the same commands and making sure they mean the same thing to everyone. Be consistent about what happens when a command is given and when a command is ignored. And, everyone should have fun working with the dog, even correcting behaviors and teaching your dog something new should be fun!

For more dog training information like this check out TheDogTrainingSecret.com.

Related posts:

1. Using treats for dog training

I know that at some point there will be a second dog in our household. This very day, week or month is not the right time, but that could easily change.

My problem is not whether or not to adopt a second dog, my problem is deciding on “the right” dog.

I know the correct way to adopt a dog – take my time, set my emotions aside and find a dog that will compliment the energy in our house. That’s exactly what I did with my mutt Ace when I adopted him almost three years ago through a great rescue in Fargo called Adopt A Pet.

The second time around will be much harder for me because I’m more involved with dog rescue and it’s hard to set my emotions aside now that I spend time with so many dogs in need of homes. When I adopted Ace, I had no connections with any rescues in town and in many ways this made it easier to find “the perfect” dog.

‘The right’ dog

The dog I have always wanted to adopt does not fit that “ideal” profile for our household.

Ideally, a new dog should be more submissive and less energetic than the existing dog (and cats) so she can fit nicely into the order of the house. Most people make the mistake of adopting a hyper, young dog that ends up bringing chaos and stress to everyone.

I know from experience with fostering and pet sitting that the above advice should be taken very seriously. Higher energy, dominant dogs will create problems. Calmer, laid-back, submissive dogs will mold with the other animals almost seamlessly. It’s pretty amazing, yet it’s a very simple concept.

If anyone were to ask me for advice on adopting a second dog, I would highly advise them to choose a dog with less energy than their current dog. At the same time, I am going to have a hard time following my own advice.

Most dogs are more dominant than Ace. In case you forgot, my 9-pound cat will sit in an entryway blocking Ace just because he can. Ace will sit and cry until I come and “rescue” him.

The ranking in our house is very clear – humans, cats, dog.

The dog that I have always wanted to adopt is a dominant animal. Although she has no trouble following a consistent, knowledgeable human, there would naturally be a power struggle between her and my more dominant cat, Beamer. Not only that, but this particular dog has shown aggression with other animals.

Rescuing a dog

I’m writing this post because my conflict is one that every dog lover should think about.

At what point is it OK to adopt a more challenging dog?

That answer is different for everyone, and some people should never adopt certain dogs. It’s something I struggle with. I know how to properly choose a “perfect” dog, but I am also willing and capable of offering a great home to a dog with a few “issues.” We all know there is a lack of homes for these dogs.

I work with a lot of rescue dogs, and I can say that I am better than most as far as not getting too attached. I never want to keep my foster dogs. I don’t even want to foster a dog right now.

But … there has always been this one dog.

Am I “the one” for her? It’s easy to believe I am, but I know it’s mostly my emotional needs getting in the way again – a danger for every dog lover involved with rescue.

This dog doesn’t need me, as much as I want to believe she does. She needs someone – me or any other capable dog owner.  I imagine there must be hundreds of dog lovers out there who could be right for this dog. They just haven’t met her, at least not at the right time.

So … for now we are a one-dog home (with a lot of visiting and temporary dogs). Sooner or later though, there will be a second. The “right dog” for us is yet to be determined.

Why did you choose the dog/s you have?

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Designer dogs, hybrid dogs, puggles, goldendoodles, schnoodles, and yes, Labradoodles have become more popular recently.

But aren’t they all just mixed breed dogs? Well, in a way, they are.

So what makes them so special?

Let’s take a step back and present a more “formal” definition of a hybrid or designer dog.

A designer dog or “hybrid” is a dog that is a deliberate cross between two purebred dogs of different dog breeds.

In a way, they are also different than your typical idea of a mutt – a mix or cross of different, and usually unknown dog breeds.

The designer dog is deliberately bred and usually has parents that are carefully selected. In the case of the Labradoodle, the breed is created by crossing a Labrador retriever and a poodle. Some breeders choose to breed Labradoodles with other Labradoodles.

You may say that a Labradoodle is still a mutt, and you may be right. But there are many people who would disagree. In fact, they would be willing to spend up to $2,000 (in some cases) for a quality Labradoodle.

Labradoodles are actually one of the most popular designer dogs. Both Labrador retrievers and poodles are very popular dog breeds. They are both intelligent and love to please their families. In many cases, Labradoodles will share similar traits to their parents.

Because poodles shed less than other dog breeds, they are often used in these hybrid crosses in an attempt to create a more hypoallergenic dog breed. In the case of the Labrador retriever, a notorious shedder, breeders are attempting to create a loving, friendly, intelligent and active dog that will have a more curly coat that will shed less.

Although Labradoodles are claimed to be hypoallergenic, this really depends on the individual dog.

Labradoodles were first bred around 1989. Since then, they have been used as guide dogs and assistance dogs because they are very gentle and easily trained.

Labradoodle appearance

Labrador retrievers are crossed with either the standard poodle or the miniature poodle to create first generation Labradoodles. Some of the puppies from these crosses will have curly coats like the poodle, while others will more closely resemble the Labrador parent. Some puppies will end up with a wiry coat.

Some of the offspring will have a personality that is more like the poodle, while others will have the temperament of a Lab. The truth is, they are crosses and can have the look and personality of either parent or a combination of both.

As far as their coat colors, they can have coats of white, cream, gold, apricot, red, brown, black and other colors that can be seen in poodles. The colors of the pups depend on genetics. Not all the puppies will be the same color just because they are from the same litter or just because their parents are a certain color.

Health of Labradoodles

When breeding Labradoodles and other designer dogs, breeders claim to be trying to produce “hybrid vigor.” Whether or not hybrid vigor actually exists is debatable.

Some people claim that mixed breed dogs are healthier. In reality, a Labradoodle could be free of the genetic conditions that may plague their purebred parents, or not. If both parents suffer from the same genetic condition, chances are that their offspring will suffer from that condition as well.

If you are considering a Labradoodle, or any puppy for that matter, your best bet is to find a responsible breeder who has had the parents tested for genetic conditions before breeding them.

Labradoodles and other designer dogs are very popular right now and they can make wonderful pets. But no matter what type of dog you are considering, the advice remains the same – do your research. If you are considering a designer dog, then be sure that both parent dog breeds are compatible with your lifestyle because your puppy may have traits from both parents.

And as always, remember, there are many wonderful dogs, mixed breeds and purebred dogs, who need a loving home.

Now it’s your turn. What do you think about the current trend in designer dogs?

Some examples of designer dogs:

That Mutt has featured many breed profiles.

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I’m all for positive reinforcement and use a lot of treats when teaching a new concept, but other than that I expect my dog to listen regardless of whether I have a treat or not. It annoys me when some dogs will not obey a command unless they think they will get a food reward. This is the owner’s fault, of course.

Like most dogs, my mutt Ace also responds better if he thinks he might get a treat. The trick is to make him think there’s always a chance he’ll get a treat. Good thing Ace is not good at math and won’t understand he’s getting a treat about five percent of the time!

Ace responds better to my commands when I set aside time to do actual training sessions compared to randomly telling him to do things throughout the day. This could be because during these “training sessions” I am more likely to use treats.

For example, when Ace and I are at obedience class and practicing recalls, he comes running enthusiastically every time I call him.  It’s not because I’m a better trainer than the other dog owners. It’s because I have a food hound.

Another reason my dog is more focused and obedient during training sessions is because when we train, he knows I mean business. Plus, Ace loves to work and he loves having my full attention. Whether or not we use treats, training is fun! And that’s how it should be.

If dog trainers (and by that I mean dog owners) can agree on one thing, it’s that treats should be used at least from time to time as positive reinforcement. My belief is that once a dog understands a command, treats should be given randomly but rarely - maybe twice per training session.

For young dogs, dogs that are still learning or dogs with short attention spans, treats should be given more often.

Be careful though, because it is possible to unintentionally teach a dog not to pay attention unless there is food. Dogs understand patterns and repetitions, so if you repeat something often enough, the dog will think this is what he’s supposed to do.

For example, if you pull out a treat every time your dog barks, looks away or starts to go after another dog, he might think you are rewarding him for the behavior. To prevent this, keep treats on hand and reward your dog randomly when he is paying attention without being asked.

Positive reinforcement dog training

Since Ace responds so well when we are in “working mode,” one of my goals is to get him to respond just as well when I randomly tell him to do something throughout the day. That means I’m going to have to use more treats – randomly of course.

I will reward Ace when he’s doing something I like – maybe for coming when called, heeling perfectly, lying down calmly, making eye contact, etc.

The second part of my goal is to reward with food only when my dog is calm. It’s so easy for dog owners to do the opposite. As humans, we think it’s cute when our dogs are begging, jumping up and down or climbing into our laps. We also have a tendency to release our dogs, get them excited and then give them a treat. It’s better to give the dog a treat while he’s still lying down and calm. Then release him.

My mutt will always be one of those dogs that easily slips into an obsessive state of mind when it comes to food or retrieving. That is the main reason I want to work on rewarding him only when he’s relaxed.

Relaxed does not simply mean lying down.

A relaxed dog is not stiff, leaning forward, tense, staring or panting. A relaxed dog is not ready to break from stay in a split second.

If I am holding a tennis ball, Ace will be so excited and obsessed that although for the most part he responds to my commands, he will do so while remaining stiff, constantly smacking his lips and trembling. This is not normal and should not be rewarded!

If you look at the photo of Ace above, he is actually relaxed there. He is making eye contact, but not staring obsessively. His ears are back, and his body is back and relaxed, not leaning forward. Good boy!

Using toys as a reward during dog training

Another way to reward my dog is with a tennis ball – the ultimate reward in Ace’s small mind. Something I’d like to do more with him is to practice random obedience while a ball is in sight. That way, when he is calm, I can use the ball as a reward. I don’t even have to throw the ball. Every tenth command or so can be, “Get the ball.” For Ace, hearing that phrase is a much better reward than pieces of jerky. Go figure.

The phrase “Get the ball” is followed by “drop” and then “leave it” as we walk a few feet away to continue working on other commands and ignoring the ball.

If your dog is obsessive over food the way Ace is with a tennis ball, you could try practicing some commands while there is food on the ground so your dog has to ignore the food. Just use a leash for extra control as needed.

I have to be careful when using food or toy rewards with my dog because they can easily get him too excited. The training session itself should be a reward. The food and toys are just little extras for especially good behavior.

For training, I like to use soft jerky treats that can be torn into really small pieces. Wellness makes a lot of healthy dog treats that you may want to check out. Yes, Wellness sent us some free samples so they get a plug. Try the Wellness Pure Rewards turkey and salmon jerky. Your dog will love it!

Do you use a lot of treats when training your dog? What tips do you have for rewarding calm behavior?

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1. How to get your dog to listen

Ace is not a very good reviewer since he will give an A+ to anything he manages to consume (cat turds, Purina One dog food, cigarette butts …). So you’re going to have to trust my judgement instead. And no, I didn’t actually taste the dog food. Ace did the tasting, I did the reading.

You will only find premium dog food and treats on k9cuisine.com, so you can feel comfortable feeding any of its products to your dog. Below are some of the foods we received, and as you can see, the company sells foods that use high-quality proteins (actual meat) and no artificial preservatives or dyes.

It’s always a good idea to read dog food ingredients. While you’re at it, look at the ingredients in your own food. I’ve been much more aware of what I’ve been consuming lately, and it’s not always good!

So, you can’t go wrong with products at k9cuisine.com. Here are some examples:

Go! Natural duck formula

This food uses natural ingredients, including high-quality protein and high-quality grains. My only complaint is that I like to feed my dog a grain-free dog food, or at least a food that lists protein as the top three ingredients. That was not the case with this food.

Ingredients: Duck meal, oatmeal, potato, whole oats, de-boned duck, canola oil, apple, natural flavor, flaxseed, quinoa … click here for the full list and for more info about this food.

Horizon Complete dog food

I can say about the same for Canadian-made Horizon Complete dog food. It uses high-quality ingredients, but I prefer to feed my dog a food with more protein.

Ingredients: chicken meal, hulless barley, whole grain rye, fresh de-boned chicken, hulless oats
chicken fat, beet pulp … click here for the full list of ingredients and more info about the food.

Horizon Legacy dog food

I highly recommend this food because it uses high-quality protein as the top four ingredients. It also uses fresh fruits and vegetables. It’s a pricey $29 for an 8.8-pound bag, but there is free shipping and the food is often on sale. It’s also convenient to have the food shipped directly to your doorstep.

If you read the ingredients below, it sounds quite tasty!

Ingredients: fresh chicken meat, chicken meal, salmon meal, turkey meal, pea starch concentrate, green split peas, chicken fat, whole eggs … click here for more info.

Do you ever order natrual dog food or dog treats online? Have you ordered anything from k9cuisine.com?

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Learning about dogs is an ongoing process, according to Omar Reyes of Dog Care Journey. That’s part of the reason why he started his blog in November 2009, to try to document the experience of sharing life with a dog. That includes everything from bringing a dog home to training, feeding and caring for an older dog.

Dog Care Journey is full of down to earth information about living with and appreciating dogs. Omar doesn’t claim to be an expert, just a well-informed dog owner hoping to make a difference for other owners and their pets.

“I think there are still a lot of people out there who mistakenly believe that having a dog, or any pet for that matter, is simply a matter of going out and getting one and everything else falls into place after that,” Omar said. “Many people don’t realize that it takes a consistent effort to properly care for your pet.”

When he was growing up, Omar said his parents believed dogs were not family members and should be kept outside. This was due to a lack of education about proper dog care, and Omar knew that eventually he would have his own dogs and view them as trusted companions. Today, he and his family own a schnoodle named Misha.

Misinformation about proper dog care is a common problem, Omar said, especially when it comes to obtaining a dog. People will run out and buy a popular breed just because it is hyped up by media or gets over exposure from celebrities.

Informing people on how to choose a family dog is just one of the many ways Omar hopes to help dog owners.

“Before we brought Misha home, I researched different breeds for several months before deciding on a particular type of dog that we felt would be a good fit for our family,” he said.

Some of the most popular posts on Dog Care Journey include the dog breed profiles, filled with information about each kind of dog. I really like that the “breed” profiles include common mixed-breed dogs such as the schnoodle. Maybe we’ll eventually see a post on the Labrador-great dane-pointer-miscellaneous hound!

Readers are encouraged to participate on Dog Care Journey by adding thoughts, comments, questions or disagreements. Omar’s mission for Dog Care Journey is to continue building information on various dog topics and then compiling them into reports people can download.

Dog owners may be interested in Dog Care Journey’s dog care handbook, a collection of tips on basic first-aid, pet safety and preparing for disasters and emergencies. It’s free and can be downloaded directly from the site.

If you are new to Dog Care Journey, a good place to go for general information about the site is the About page. From there, check out the Popular Topics on the right sidebar.

One popular post is on why you should train a dog. Dog training is an important topic written about often on Dog Care Journey. Omar trains Misha himself, focusing on positive reinforcement techniques. He also uses what he learned from taking his bulldogs to group training classes, working individually with a trainer and studying Cesar Millan’s techniques.

Omar said he would like to take the necessary steps towards working in animal assisted therapy with Misha. After a recent family tragedy, he saw the amazing healing power a dog has and said that Misha was the one to hold everyone together. She was often able to offer comfort and bring out smiles.

Since he is always learning more about dogs, Omar said he hopes to continue writing about them and building relationships with people who have the same passion. As we all know, life with a dog really is a journey worth sharing.

This was a paid web site review.

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This is the story of Georgia, a “lucky” dog who now sleeps under the covers every night in a warm bed.

Georgia is a dog who taught me and many others a thing or two about what it means to rescue dogs. Although she is just one dog, Georgia’s story is in some ways the story of all rescue dogs - those that find homes, those that do not, and those that continue to wait.

Pulled from a high-kill shelter

Kish Hilmert, founder of 4 Luv of Dog Rescue in Fargo, was on an email list in 2007 that focused on saving southern dogs from gassing shelters. She had originally responded to a post about a small dog from the same shelter as Georgia.

“When I called, that dog had been rescued, but the volunteer begged me to take Georgia,” she said.

Kish debated over rescuing Georgia, a pit mix who would take a lot of time and money to get transported to Fargo. At the time, Kish was helping rescue dogs with money from her own pocket.

“Her pound picture was terrible. Her head was hung so low that you could not see her face, just her back,” Kish said of Georgia.

She decided to give the dog a chance.

Like many southern pound dogs, Georgia later tested positive for heartworm. But Kish said once she and 4 Luv of Dog Rescue agree to help a dog, it becomes their responsibility to do everything possible by providing medical care, providing emotional care and never giving up on that dog.

A forever home

Ask Andree Hayes why it took Georgia so long to find a permanent home and she will say “Because she was meant to be our dog!”

Today, Georgia follows Phil and Andree Hayes from room to room.

“She is our best friend that we love to spend time with,” Andree said.

Georgia can be found lounging on the couch, napping near windows and sleeping in her owners’ bed at night. In the mornings, Georgia is always eager to start a new day and gets pushy if “Mom and Dad” try to sleep in.

“She sighs with annoyance and kicks the snooze-pusher,” Andree said.

The couple chose to foster Georgia in July 2009. She was their first foster dog. Their initial impressions of their future dog weren’t exactly ideal – she was a little hyper at the kennel and even ripped Phil’s pants, Andree said.

Still, they brought Georgia home that day, assuming she would be a long-term foster dog.

“We didn’t know how we felt, but it sure felt right driving her home,” Andree said. ”Phil put his arm around me in the front seat, and Georgia stuck her head underneath his arm from the back seat as if to show she was already part of our family.”

Georgia would be the couple’s first dog together. Phil had never owned a dog before, and Andree grew up with her family’s cocker spaniel mix, Licorice.

In December 2009, Andree and Phil began thinking of actually adopting Georgia. Although Andree said she thought eventually someone might want the dog, no one had looked at Georgia during adoption events.

“Then I thought how sad I would be without her, and how I would feel like I gave up on her by letting someone else adopt her,” she said. ”She was and is truly a perfect dog, so how could we do any better than that?”

Life in the kennel

Although Georgia went without a foster home for the majority of two years, she did receive special attention from rescue volunteers and kennel staff during that time. She got to go on walks and attended training classes.

Two years is a long time for an animal that on average might live to be 10 or 11. But every time I took Georgia out for a run, she was making the best of what she had. She was always optimistic and living in the moment as animals do best.

Like me, many rescue volunteers got to know Georgia well.

“She didn’t let kennel life get her down,” said Tina, foster coordinator with 4 Luv of Dog. “Georgia is a nice dog – she loves people – she was just given a bad break by having a prior owner who obviously did not properly train or socialize her with other animals.”

Georgia’s new owners are very aware of their dog’s nature and said they don’t allow her in situations that would jeopardize her or anyone’s safety.

Is there someone out there for every rescue dog?

I believe that most of life’s events happen by coincidence, but if Georgia has taught me one thing, it’s never give up. There just might be someone out there for every dog.

“Sometimes it just takes a while to find the right match,” Tina said. ”Some dogs require more effort on the part of their owners.”

Kish also said she believes there is a home out there for every dog, and seeing a dog like Georgia go into a loving home means a lot.

“When I heard her fosters were adopting her, I did tear up,” she said. ”I often think of her in her home and sleeping on the couch or getting her beloved belly rubs and it makes me sooo happy. She deserves a loving home that appreciates her.”

‘Kill’ vs. no-kill shelters

There is always debate on whether it’s right for shelters or rescues to eventually euthanize some animals.

PETA and the HSUS stand by the argument that euthanizing ”less adoptable dogs” is at times better in the long run because this opens up more resources and space for other animals. It is also possible for dogs to literally go crazy from long-term confinement, so some believe it’s more humane to end dogs’ lives.

In my opinion, the fact that so many dogs are euthanized each year when there are dog lovers in every community willing to help is a complete shame and failure.

When people criticize 4 Luv of Dog for taking in certain dogs, Kish said she encourages these people to get involved with animal rescue and to focus more time and energy to helping animals.

Often, the public does not have a clear idea of what animal rescue entails, she said. Dogs give us humans so much love, loyalty and companionship, and they deserve our love and dedication. 

“The dogs in the pounds can not speak for themselves,” Kish said. “They can not tell us how wonderful they are, how hard their lives have been, and how much they deserve to live, so that is why it is so important to me to help these dogs.”

Tina also believes it is worth all the time, money and effort to save all dogs because they deserve better. After all, it’s not the dog’s fault if he ends up in the pound or happens to have behavioral issues.

“Dogs grow and become a by-product of how they were raised and what their owners taught them,” Tina said. ”Dogs are not born mean, aggressive or fearful – they become this way due to the environment in which they are raised.”

Tina said she believes most behavioral issues can be corrected. It just might take a lot of work, and not all people are willing to put in the time and effort many dogs require.

Lucky dog

Now that Georgia is in their lives, Andree said she and her husband are a whole lot happier. They often prefer to stay home with their dog these days rather than go out with friends. They used to wash their hands every two minutes when they were around Georgia, but now they embrace her licking and her “dog germs.”

Andree said all dogs deserve a chance, and she strongly encourages people to adopt a rescue dog or to consider fostering a dog “because you just might fall in love!”

Congratulations, Georgia, you’re home at last.

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