Follow Me Dog Training

Babies and kids with dogs

Follow Me Dog Training LLC would like to send out a special happy birthday and welcome to the world to Claire…human sister of Zuzu the Lab. One of the reasons we were called in to help train Zuzu and her family was because we knew that Claire was on her way and Zuzu wasn’t quite well mannered enough to be around a baby! When I heard about Claire’s birth there was also a note attached with the picture above saying :

“Zuzu has been so sweet thanks to the training.”

Way to go Zuzu and her family. At the last lesson I made a point of talking to Claire’s mom and family about the best way to introduce Zuzu to the baby, good places to set up a place board, told them to make sure they got Zuzu for her exercise and to make sure Claire’s mom came in without her when she first got home so she could say hello to Zuzu without Claire in her arms…Zuzu hadn’t seen her in a day and she smells and looks much different when she comes home from the hospital. Sounds like things went great and I look forward to meeting Claire and seeing Zuzu this weekend. Happy Birthday Claire…I still think you should have held out three more days so we could have shared the day

If you haven’t seen it yet there is a great article on the Follow me Dog Training LLC website about babies and dogs. It is called Bringing Home Baby and was written by a friend and fellow dog trainer named Dawn Geremia. Dawn is the owner of First Friend Dog Training in CT. Dawn has two kids of her own and regularly does presentations to doctors and new moms with the information she shares in this article. I’m a big advocate of making sure your dog is ready when you bring a new family member into the home. Many of the things that Follow Me Dog Training LLC teaches in our programs helps this transition a great deal. We’ll even do “Preparing for the new family member” private lessons to make sure you have all the information you need and so we can evaluate how your dog is doing and will do with the change.

I have a young niece and nephew and made sure that my brother and sister-in-law read this article before they were born. I also gave them a bunch of other information to work on with their German Shepherd Dog “Meiko”. Now my niece and Meiko are good friends and it is great to see! She gives him a kiss before bed time and will share a toy with him, and I’m sure she has convinced him that trolling under the dinner table will bring good things!

Dogs and babies/children should never be left alone together no matter how good you believe your dog to be! Always supervise their interactions. Teach your children from the get-go that the dog isn’t to be pulled, tugged or hit!  Give your dog a place to go to get away from the kids…a safe place that is child free. Teach your dog the difference between dog toys and a favorite stuffed animal.

Children are a blessing and so are our dogs, please prepare yourself for the two worlds to meet or you may have a rocky road. I’ve heard a few times of people letting go of their family pet because of a new baby or child, because the dog had no manners, couldn’t control himself, was too loud, or felt threatened by the kid or the owners just don’t have any time for their fuzzy “baby”.

If you are expecting a child or are having a hard time managing your dog around your children of any age, we can help! Contact Follow Me Dog Training LLC for a FREE demonstration and evaluation.

Boaz the teenager

This is Boaz. He is a very handsome young Golden Retriever. He is about 7 months old which places him in his teenage rebellion time. And Boaz is taking full advantage of his age. He likes to jump on the furniture, grab things off the ground and gobble them down, jump and hang on to the young girls in the house, growl at visitors and nip at his owners. None of these are particularly endearing qualities and Boaz’s owners new they needed to do something so they could have the dog they always wanted.

Boaz was using his owners…yes he was being manipulative and thoughtful in how to control his space and his humans. Follow Me Dog Training LLC set out right away to help Boaz’s humans see that they were the one’s in charge and that although very handsome, Boaz was just a dog and needed a little structure and self control to get through his adolescence. Dogs are happier and less stressed when they have a schedule, a routine, rules to follow and an understanding of what they can do for their owners. Boaz’s owners were giving him a lot of time and attention, but unfortunately it was time demanded by Boaz. Boaz felt it was OK to walk up to one of the family and shove his ball in their lap or practically push them off the couch when he wanted to lay down. Time and attention has to be the reward for rules and earning your keep for Boaz, and that wasn’t how things were working out.

 Right away we worked on getting Boaz off the furniture,  dragging a leash so they could grab a handle when Boaz started to jump on them, we helped the girls learn to stand like a tree and ask for help from mom and dad instead of running and yelling, and we taught him how to walk nicely on a leash, not bolt out the door, and how to go to his kennel at night.

Follow Me Dog Training LLC is happy to say that Boaz has come a long way. I’ll never forget how happy the girls were when they could sit down with Boaz and give him a little love without him jumping all over them. He has learned how to come, sit, heel, wait, and go to his place. But most of all he has learned a little self control. He still has his moments when he hasn’t had enough exercise or he feels he might just be able to get away with a bad behaviour, but those are less and less. Even better is that his family now has a little more faith in Boaz to be a great dog!

At our last lesson we sat in the living room and Boaz laid down at our feet and calmly watched us have a conversation while the girls ran in and out and the doorbell ran. What a huge change from our first attempt to have a conversation in that same room. A hearty “Well Done” goes out to Boaz’s family…keep working and having faith in him. And of course…”Good Boy” Boaz you’ll make it through this learning curve and have even more fun on the other side.

Did you know that the average age of dogs being dropped off at shelters or abandoned is about 7-12 months. Their main crime…they got to big. After that is that they were acting as rebellious teenagers doing all the things dogs love to do and their humans are not amused by. Follow Me Dog Training LLC knows a dog can be trained at any age and thanks the people who decide to train their adolescent dogs rather then just getting rid of them.

If you are bringing a new puppy into your home, start out ahead of the game with a 2 hour Puppy Consultation with Follow Me Dog Training LLC. We’ll give you all the information you need to make your dog’s puppy months a happy, learning experience. Build a strong foundation so that when your dog reaches his teenage months you’ll know what to expect and you might just miss the rebellion because your dog will already have all the tools for a healthy relationship with you and the family.

Leinie caught speeding for good cause!

Did you know that dogs can be diagnosed with cancer? It is a scary thought to have a sick animal in your house and even scarier when the friendly vet says your fuzzy family member has cancer. Cancer in dogs was brought to mind just recently two-fold while I was up at the agility workshop in NJ at K9 Basics and as I have watched one of my clients nursing her Rhodesian Ridgeback that has a tumor over her right eye.

At K9 Basics Leinie was given a speeding ticket for running 28 mph (I know he can go faster!) This speeding ticket was a way of supporting “Chase Away K9 Cancer” . Cera Reusser, “mom” to Chase, an AKC Master Hunter, Elite Jumper in Dockdogs Big Air and NW Challenge Champion for 2005, developed this program to help make money for cancer research through the ACVIM Foundation  after loosing Chase to cancer in 2006. It is a sad day for any dog owner when they loose their best friend. Follow Me Dog Training LLC is so thankful to people like Cera Reusser for changing a bad event into something that will help millions of dogs now and in the future. “Chase Away k9 Cancer” is supported by companies like Dock Dogs, Bushnell, ACVIM Foundation, and many others.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback, Shiraz, has had in her past a bout with cancer. So when her owner noticed something “funny” about the way a bump over her eye looked, she badgered her vet to take a second and third look. Shiraz is currently being treated for that bump and is recovering well. Shiraz’s owner followed up with a holistic Veterinarian that has worked on both her dogs and her regular vet to find a treatment that would help Shiraz heal comfortably and completely! I’ve seen Shiraz at least once a week when I go over to work with the other Rhodesian in the house,Sam. It has been fascinating to see the process of healing. Shiraz isn’t happy…imagine how frustrating it would be to have treatment on a tumor over your eye and imagine you are a dog. But Shiraz is healing and warm thoughts go out to her owners because it hasn’t been an easy process to go through so far.

Cancer does happen to animals and humans alike. Follow Me Dog Training LLC encourages you to make sure you know your dog’s body through a daily grooming and “feeling over” routine. Take note of any changes in the way your dog’s body feels, notice any new bumps or lumps. Follow up with your Veterinarian if it seems like things aren’t right. As with humans, the earlier you detect something, the sooner it can be diagnosed and healed (if possible).

Leinie wants another go at a speeding ticket and Follow Me Dog Training LLC will continue to support the fight against K9 cancer. Warm wags and soft woofs go out to all our dog friends that are living with or recovering from some form of K9 cancer.

Lip licking good turkey!

Did your dog get into the Thanksgiving Day turkey? Leinie appreciated all the good smells coming out of the kitchen but was a perfect gentleman all day. His reward was a nice long walk and a game of fetch and he was a happy dog! Would you like your dog to participate in the holiday madness without frustration and chaos? Would you like your dog to snooze by the fire instead of plotting the shortest distance from the turkey to the back door? Would you like to have a well mannered dog that comes when called, stays on their place, sits for longer then two seconds, walks nicely with you on and off leash and lies down at your feet in front of the TV to watch the football game? If so contact Follow Me Dog Training LLC for a FREE demonstration and evaluation with your dog.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving from Follow Me Dog Training LLC !

As you sit down at the table with friends and family, don’t forget to be thankful for your dogs! I am thankful to have two great dogs that are well mannered, love long walks, cuddle on the couch, don’t beg when I am eating in-front of the TV, help me with my job, keep the yard squirrel free and most important give me unconditional love.

Follow Me Dog Training LLC wants to hear you say:

• I’m thankful my dog doesn’t bolt through the doors and run into the street when guests arrive.
• I’m thankful my dog stayed on all fours when the dinner guests arrived.
• I’m thankful my dog stayed on their place/bed while dinner was being served.
• I’m thankful my dog came on a nice walk after dinner to burn off all those servings of mashed potatoes.
• I’m thankful my dog doesn’t mind wearing a Green Bay Packers jersey during the game.
• I’m thankful my dog didn’t wag his tail into a burning candle.
• I’m thankful my dog didn’t eat the pumpkin pie.
• I’m thankful my dog was a perfect lady or gentleman on Thanksgiving.

If your dog is frustrating you and the family and you aren’t sure you can take him with you to celebrate the holidays but really want to, Follow Me Dog Training LLC can help!Contact Follow Me Dog Training LLC for a FREE demonstration and evaluation with your dog.

No walls and floors for Zuzu anymore!

Meet Zuzu the black Lab. She has a sordid history of chewing on the walls, eating the floors, jumping on guests and pulling her owners about the neighborhood. She looks innocent doesn’t she! I think that is part of her conspiracy…She looks all cute hoping that the chewed up floor won’t reflect in her big brown eyes.

For Zuzu, those days are over! Follow Me Dog Training LLC has been working with Zuzu and her family for a couple weeks and she has done some incredible learning during that time. First there was the “She just pulls so much, I don’t think we’ll ever be able to take her for long walks” comment. Zuzu learned to walk on a leash in a wonderful heel so that she can walk with everyone in the house. Then Zuzu amazed her owners again by walking off leash in our last lesson, tail wagging and grin on her face. Next we had the “She is awful when someone comes in the door and loves to stick her nose in every-one’s lap and jump all over them.” Go visit Zuzu now and she will sit nicely at the door and loves to be kissed on the ears in exchange for a calm welcome.

Zuzu watched patiently as her owners fixed the wall she had chewed up and replaced the floor in the kitchen she had destroyed. She is less bored because her owners are doing a great job keeping her mind occupied with new things Zuzu can do for them.

Zuzu’s most recent moment of glory happened this past weekend. The lesson before we had taught Zuzu how to go to a place. I think her owners thought I was crazy when I brought in the step stool for Zuzu to sit on….ok I think Zuzu thought I was crazy as well! This weekend she hoped back on there without a problem and then we had some fun with the place command. The owners assured me that Zuzu would never get on anything else because she was very sensitive and afraid of things…well Zuzu wanted to prove them wrong and she did…..first with the leash:

Leinie gave her a little encouragement to stay up there, promising a fun romp in the back yard. So then she took the next step and went to her place off leash :

Check me out..I’m taller then you now, she seemed to say to Leinie. The neighbors came and admired her and every-time someone mentioned her name, she wagged her tail and you could see the confidence growing! As promised, at the end of the lesson, Zuzu and Leinie were allowed to race around her back yard. Zuzu had earned it, she had a fantastic day and her owners learned how useful the place command is.

Teaching your dog to go to a place, or bed is a wonderful command. A place can be anything you want it to be…a bed, blanket, beach towel, overturned flower pot, manhole cover, retaining wall, Leinie has been known to get up on a fire hydrant once in awhile. The command gives your dog somewhere to go and stay put comfortably. Many of my clients use the command when they are eating a meal, or want to relax and don’t want the dog on top of them, when out on a picnic and they don’t want their dog into the food, while watching a child’s sporting event, or it makes it easier to pose your dog for pictures (I worked with one dog that was going to be in some wedding pictures….the place sure came in handy on that muddy day so the dog wasn’t all over the bride in her beautiful dress.) It is a very useful command for every dog to learn how to accomplish.

Zuzu is a fantastic learner and so are her owners. She gains confidence everytime I see her. I know her owners will continue to challenge her enough so she doesn’t go back to her floor eating ways!

If you want to take better posed pictures of your dog or just want to have them know how to go to their bed and stay there, contact Follow Me Dog Training LLC for a FREE demonstration and evaluation with your dog!

Cockapoos, Malinois and Rhinos…oh my!

Talk about distractions…this one is fantastic! Meet Sophie and the Rhino she keeps in her front yard. Sophie is a 3 1/2 year old cockapoo that Follow Me Dog Training LLC has been working with. We have had three lessons and Sophie is amazing her owners. She hadn’t been around too many other dogs and the first time she saw Leinie she was all barks and snarls…she’s been charmed by him and trained by us and was running around with him at our most recent lesson. I’m so proud of her owners for working with her to help her understand she is just a dog not queen of the household…although I can imagine she still cleans out an ice cream bowl now and again.

Sophie was also convinced that she needed to be heard whenever anyone came to the door. Well now, she lets us know someone is there and then politely greets you at the door, quiet and calm. I think that her owners are the most excited by the fact that they can now take her for a long walk around their yard dragging a short leash (soon to be off leash, right Sophie!) She comes the first time they call and is enjoying a little more freedom. I’m just happy to see her owners comfortably and confidently walking her because it is good for them and for her! Her mom told me today that she never thought it possible that Sophie would be able to walk around off leash, much less enjoy the big patches of green grass…good work Sophie and owners!

Sophie still has some work to do to prepare herself for her winter in Florida. But I know she will be ready and excited for the warm weather, beaches and enjoying a cup of coffee at an outdoor cafe with her mom!

Excessive barking can be stressful and frustrating for both the dog and owner. It’s ok if your dog wants to woof once or twice at the door when someone rings the bell, but then they should quiet down and look to you to see what they should do next. If your dog is having a problem greeting people politely at your door, contact Follow Me Dog Training LLC  for a FREE demonstration and evaluation with your dog!

Jump, weave, climb, bottom….can I have my ball now?

Follow Me Dog Training LLC traveled to New Jersey this past weekend to attend an agility workshop at K9 Basics. K9 Basics was hosting Sue Barnes of MyTDog .

Although Sue was doing this agility workshop, in the recent years she has been doing more in another sport, Dock Dogs. Tanner (Sue’s German Shorthair Pointer) was given an award this year for being the highest ranked GSP in the US, Canada and UK on the Dock Dogs circuit for his jump average of nearly 23′! He was also this years winner of the Gracie Award which is given to the #1 Veteran dog in Dock Dogs! Tanner is an extremely versatile dog. When he was younger Sue also did Field Trials with him, agility, regular obedience and tricks and just kept expanding his knowledge. I remember when Sue first called me and told me she was going to get Tanner into this new sport of Dock Diving. That was only a couple years ago and what an amazing turn he has made of it! Tanner does a lot of stuff but the best thing about Sue and Tanner’s relationship is that it is based in obedience and fun. Tanner is a well mannered, social dog who would just as soon curl up on the couch with you as chase a bumper off a dock! Tanner is the perfect example of both worlds….a high energy dog that Sue can turn off and on when needed because she has a great deal of respect and control over and for her dog.

The weekend was full of excitement as all the dogs learned the obstacles in a safe and fun manner. Weave poles and for some, the shoot were the toughest for the owners to communicate to their dogs what they needed to do. For Leinie he was there to learn a few new things but most importantly to learn to slow down on the obstacles. Sue had some great suggestions and Leinie wasn’t flying over the A-Frame by the end of the weekend. But he was more concerned about a ball he found under the A-frame!

Agility builds confidence in the dogs as well as teaches them how to use their whole bodies to conquer a piece of equipment. It was fantastic to see a lot of the dogs on sat. and sun. gain the confidence to leave their owner’s side and walk over a 4 foot tall dog walk. If you don’t have agility equipment, you can make your own jumps and obstacles from everyday life. A broom handle on top of a couple boxes make a great jump and a downed tree in the woods is a fantastic dog walk.

I want to especially commend the clients and staff of K9 Basics . Some of their clients were putting me to shame. I love that K9 Basics has very high standards for graduation and their clients stay motivated to work to those standards. Every dog trainer loves to go to a workshop or seminar and see a bunch of well mannered dogs that have off leash ability and are having a blast doing it. You can’t have a good workshop without amazing attendees.

Not only did I have a chance to catch up with Sue and Tanner, the K9 Basics staff but a few other fellow trainers and friends were there. Dawn Geremia and her dog Dahlia from First Friend Dog Training in CT, Andi Watson from E-Z Dog Training, Andrea Chase from K9 Miracles and Floss Gerst were all working their own dogs and having fun.

Leinie is catching up on his sleep, Pepper had a fun weekend with my parents, and I need to catch up on work and explore Richmond VA some more!

Dog sports are fun for both the owners and their dogs. Make sure you train them safely and that the dogs are always enjoying themselves. I’ll mention more dog sports in the future because Leinie loves to try new things! If you are interested in learning more about how to introduce a sport to your dog it all starts with obedience and attention to handler and commands. Follow Me Dog Training LLC can help bridge the communication gap and start you on your way to more fun times with your dog. Call or fill out the contact form on our website for a FREE evaluation and demonstration with your dog and family!

Say thanks this weekend!!

This weekend shares two big days that I would like to bring to every-one’s attention.

10 November 2007 marks the 232nd birthday of the United States Marine Corps. My dad was part of the Diplomatic Corps when I was growing up. This meant living in foreign lands and sometimes in the Embassy itself. No matter where we went there was always an amazing Marine Guard Detachment at the Embassy to keep us and our fellow Americans safe. Some of my earliest memories involve the Marines we knew in Prague, Czechoslovakia and I also have memories of my parents getting all dressed up to attend the USMC Ball every 10 November.  As early as 1935 the Marines were seeing how valuable dogs were as sentries and scouts. During WWII dogs were trained at the War Dog Training School at Camp Lejeune, NC under C.O. William W. Putney who led American War Dogs into combat in the invasion of Guam in 1944. Richmond VA, is also just about an hour south of Quantico, VA where the USMC Museum is located, you can’t take your dog, but you can go learn about the original “Devil Dog” at this museum. So to all the former Marines and current Marines and their four footed soldiers that I know…Happy Birthday to the Corps!

11 November 2007 is also a special day. This is Veterans Day. Veterans Day has been set aside for the American people to thank living veterans for their service to our country. To thank them for their contribution to our national security. To thank them for sacrificing and doing their duty for our country. It isn’t just the troops that have died serving that need to be thanked. Especially in today’s world we need to make sure that everyone that wears a Military uniform knows how important they and their job is to the American people. Working dogs are important to our safety as well and are considered a member of the armed forces that they work for. Military Working Dogs work on home soil and in peacekeeping missions around the globe helping to secure our safety and freedom. If you would like to support the Military Working Dogs you can contact the Space Coast War Dog Association and see what you can do to help our Military Working Dogs and their handlers overseas. 

Follow Me Dog Training LLC sends a big thank you to all the Military Working Dogs that are helping protect our country. We also send a Happy Birthday to the U.S. Marine Corps.

Play nice girls!

Remember Roxy and Rudy…the English Bulldog and Labradoodle? Well, I promised them I would report that they are doing great with their training.

Roxy had to have knee surgery before we started and just got her staples out and the Vet’s ok to start really working. But nothing slows Roxy down…unless she slips in a puddle of her own slobber! Rudy was a superstar at our last lesson. I think she enjoyed learning place and sit. Both dogs are more focused on their owners and the owners were doing a great job getting both dogs out for controlled focused walks in their neighborhood. Best of all..no fights or petty bickering between the two since training started. We still have some management training in place and the owners are doing great preventing even the thought of a squabble with training and outhinking! The owners looked happy to be working both dogs around each other, without so much as one stink eye passing between the two! They still have work to do but it is a more peaceful household! An hour of training time with Follow Me Dog Training LLC and both dogs were mentally drained and ready for a long nap!

I look forward to working with the girls again next week. That Bulldog face just makes me laugh! And Roxy is a sweetheart ready to share all her drool with you. Rudy is a fun loving Labradoodle, you can see the wheels turning in her head when she is learning. Thanks to their owners for taking great care of two cool dogs and wanting the best life for both of them.

Seeing the change in your dog’s behavior when they start to understand what you want them to do is fantastic. The dogs relax and find the fun in life and the owners do more with their dogs because they aren’t as frustrated! Many owners are under the impression that their dog misbehaves naturally and they will “grow out of the problem” or they just accept some behaviors as a way of life. Your dog can be the picture in your head of the perfect dog for you. Don’t settle and say “well, my dog only does….” or  “my dog is a puppy, he’ll grow out of it” or even worse “I feel bad for him so I don’t mind if my dog …”

If you have goals for your dog or are just realizing the potential your dog has and would like more information about training; contact Follow Me Dog Training LLC for a FREE demonstration and evaluation with your dog!