Follow Me Dog Training

Pedicure time!

Making sure your dog’s nails are short is an important part of the grooming routine. You know your dog’s nails are too long when: You can hear your dog walking on concrete or tile floor. When you look at their foot print in mud you can see all the nails.When your dog is walking funny on top of their nails instead of on their paw pads. Keep in mind that just because your dog runs on concrete, or takes long walks everyday, doesn’t mean their nails don’t need a trim.

Your dog’s nails should be short and they do need to be cut or trimmed to avoid a change in gait (or how your dog walks), the nails can turn into the paw pads (especially the dew claws), and so they don’t break when running around or playing. Long nails also hurt when your dog jumps on you or other people or your dog uses their paws to demand attention. (contact Follow Me Dog Training LLC for a FREE evaluation to eliminate jumping and demanding attention!)

Many people don’t enjoy cutting their dog’s nails because of the chance of cutting the quick in a dog’s nail. This part of the nail contains blood and when cut, your dog will probably complain and bleed a little. You can train your dog to be nice and calm and accept having their nails cut either by you, a vet, or a groomer. Leinie is taught to lay on his side while I cut his nails and this makes life a lot easier for both of us. If you don’t feel comfortable cutting your dog’s nails, don’t do it, but do take some steps to having your dog remain calm and relaxed when someone does grab their paws for a nail trim.

Preparing your dog means taking the time each day when you are giving your dog some regular loving, to touch and manipulate their paws. Your dog probably won’t like this at first, that is why we suggest you do it everyday so they become accustomed to someone holding onto their paws. I also believe that nail cutting should be a calm affair, so teaching your dog to lie down and have their paws touched is a great combination. Once your dog is calm with having their paws touched, splay the paw pads..pushing each nail above the fur and handle the nails. Tapping them with a pair of clippers lets your dog become used to the idea of you holding a paw, pressing on the paw pad, and touching the nail with something other than your fingers.

There are a few different tools you can use to cut your dog’s nails. There are two kinds of clippers, the kind that have a guillotine type cutting action and the other that are alot like pliers.

Both are equally efficient, and your use should be by preference. The other tool is called a dremel. I like the dremels that are cordless and don’t make too much noise (prepare your dog for the noise before even trying to dremel their nails!) Dremels are a great tool if your dog is calm and doesn’t mind the noise, you can round off the edges of the nail and dremel closer to the quick.

Make sure you also have on hand some styptic powder, just in-case you do cut the quick. Pack some styptic powder into the nail and let the dog sit still for a few minutes, movement causes the blood to flow faster and you want the bleeding to stop. If you don’t have styptic powder handy, try cornstarch, regular flour or just stick your dog out in the mud to move about and the nail will stop bleeding.

White nails are obviously the easier of nails to cut because you can see the quick (the pink vein running up the nail).  But a good rule of thumb is to look at the nail and cut where the nail begins to curve over and become thinner. Don’t cut the meaty part of the dog’s nail, guaranteed you will hit the quick and have an unhappy dog on your hands. We suggest cutting a small amount off regularly rather then a whole lot at once. Not only does this practice the event of nail clipping, but you will be less likely to hit the quick.

If you have more questions about cutting your dog’s nails you can contact your veterinarian, a groomer, or Follow Me Dog Training LLC. We would be happy to show you how to cut nails yourself and sometimes we have been known to cut them for you.

If you are interested in making your dog’s routine grooming needs easier on you and the dog, contact Follow Me Dog Training LLC for a FREE evaluation. For your dog, training and self control help every situation a calm happy one. Where grooming is concerned, we always like to make it a calm and happy event!

Kasper on how to enjoy a Nylabone.

Kasper is a 10 month old Maltese/Poodle mix (a malti-poo)that has been staying with Follow Me Dog Training LLC for a couple days. He is a cool little dog with a great personality. He and Leinie play almost all day….they trade toys, they run after each other, Kasper tackles Leinie, Leinie woofs at Kasper….it is a trip to watch them play. Kasper has a love of toys only a little less obsessive than Leinie. He has tried to pick up and carry around Leinie’s Bouncy Bone, but wasn’t able to run too far with it. Mostly he sticks with the small and medium sizes of Kong balls, and the Nylabone Knot toys.

I DO NOT allow products such as rawhide, pigs ears, hooves, bully sticks and the like in my house. My dogs don’t need them and I find them to be rather disgusting and don’t see the need for my dog to chew on them when they can have something healthier like a Nylabone product. Kasper came to the house with a rawhide chip and it has stayed in his bag because of my house rules and because he has been finding so much joy in the toys Leinie is sharing with him.

So here is how it goes in our house right now…..the Kong ball is dropped because Leinie is obviously having more fun with the Knot.

Kasper must show off the toy to everyone and proudly chew it, head thrown into the air. Although it does look like the size of it will tip Kasper over.

Curling up on the bed he chews on it for a good five minutes or so….

Until falling asleep….

At this point, Leinie will spot the abandoned toy and the exchange starts over.

It has been alot of fun to have Kasper here and have him play so well with Leinie and vice verse!

Kasper is one of Follow Me Dog Training LLC’s clients and he would not have been allowed to come stay with me if he didn’t already have a great recall, some basic manners and was social. All those accomplishments came with training and he still has a bunch of fun stuff to learn in his training package when his owners come home. If you are interested in training your dog, contact Follow Me Dog Training LLC for a FREE evaluation with your dog.

Virginia Kennel Club Dog Show

This weekend is the Virginia Kennel Club Dog Show! The dogs will be out in numbers at The Showplace, 3000 Mechanicsville Tnpk, Richmond Virginia. For more info call, 804-257-0531. Free parking from 8am-6pm and there is an admission fee. Please leave your pet dogs at home..they might feel a little out of place.

Dog shows can be alot of fun to attend. Not only will you be surrounded by dogs of all shapes and sizes, but you may see some dogs you didn’t even know existed. There you can see the tallest dog (the Irish Wolfhound) and the shortest dog (the Chihuahua). Be sure to ask permission before petting and be careful of some dog’s hairdos, they might be about to go in the ring and the handler may have just spent alot of time primping and grooming. There are also usually lots of vendors so you can purchase fun things for your dog.

Dog Shows are also a fantastic opportunity to talk to breeders, handlers and groomers  about a specific breed of dog. If you are interested in a breed but don’t know much about them, go find where they are showing and talk to some folks. Dog show people are usually very happy to talk to others about their favorite breeds and what makes them special.

Follow Me Dog Training LLC is planning on being there for a little while between lessons so if you see Renée, say hello. If you are interested in learning more about what it takes to own a show dog or to show your dog in obedience this dog show is a great opportunity to talk to people. Although Follow Me Dog Training LLC, isn’t as involved in dog shows as many of our friends, we can lead you in the right direction to finding conformation classes or a professional handler for your dog. (Locally we like Shannon at Every Dog Training School)

If you are interested in finding the right dog for your family, or maybe need some help with a puppy, and would like some help with basic obedience and manners, contact Follow Me Dog Training LLC for a free evaluation with your dog.

Leinie’s new favorite toy

The search for the perfect toy is ongoing when you have a dog like Leinie. Tennis balls, Kongs, disc’s, Hurl-a-squirrel’s, Cuz balls, anything from Canine Hardware, Planet Dog Orbee balls, soft squeaky toys, Nylabone Dinosaurs, you name it Leinie loves them. Don’t be surprised if you call Follow Me Dog Training LLC and there is a strange squeaking/ teeth on rubber sound in the background…that is usually Leinie popping and chewing a Kong Ball.

There are different kinds of toys that can be sorted into two categories. Chew toys: those that are meant to be gnawed on to relieve stress, boredom, and alleviate teething pain. Play toys: those that are meant to be thrown, caught, tugged on, and basically involve human interaction.

With all the toys on the market today you could spend a lot of money on toys for your dog. Remember to purchase the right size toy for your dog. Don’t go buying a small latex toy for your Great Dane, they might swallow it! Make sure all your toys are safe for your dog to chew on or carry…no sharp edges or small pieces. Be sure that the toys are durable enough for a hard chewer. Know which toys float before you throw them into water for your dog to retrieve. If you see any wear and tear on a toy it is probably time to throw it away.

While I was at the IACP conference a couple weeks ago, I had a chance to see some different toys. The conference is held at Triple Crown Dog Academy in Hutto, TX.  Triple Crown has their own line of pet products they have developed under the name StarMark. Leinie loves their Easy Gliders and their Fantastic Foam Balls.

Also at the conference was an IACP Sponsor, Premier Pet Products. Premier has alot of cool products for dog…and other animals as well. So I couldn’t resist the conference discount and picked up a new toy for Leinie. Leinie’s friends Lexi and Chloe already had a couple of these toys so I had seen them before and knew that with a combination of Chew toy and Play toy, Leinie would absolutely love his new Bouncy Bone!

The toy comes with little replacement “gnawhide treat rings” but Leinie loves it whether they are on there or not. This size is a bit heavy and I have a feeling Leinie makes a point of dropping this toy on my bare feet at least once a day.

They do come in smaller sizes for dogs like Kasper, in the picture with Leinie, who has tried numerous times to lift Leinie’s Bouncy Bone. I especially like the fact that once the Nylon bone part of the toy is worn away from hours of fun, Leinie will still have a durable ball to play with. Leinie gives this toy four woofs!

Is your dog a destructive chewer? Try toys that are durable and made to be chewed. Not sure which ones those are or your dog isn’t really much of a toy “hound”? Contact Follow Me Dog Training LLC and we can give some helpful suggestions on toys that stand up to Malinois chewing and toys that excite even the laziest of dogs. Follow Me Dog Training LLC offers a FREE evaluation with your dog because training and play go hand in paw.

It was hotter in VA then it was in TX!

If you read my last blog you know that Follow Me Dog Training LLC was in Hutto, Texas last week for the International Association of Canine Professionals annual conference. Leinie and Pepper stayed at home and entertained my mom and her Irish Terrier Maggie. I called home to make sure all was good and was astounded to hear that it was actually hotter in Virginia then in Texas…who’d a thunk it!

The conference was good fun. I had a chance to catch up with Aunt Faye, Robin MacFarlane, Dawn Geremia and many other dog training friends from all over the country. The Kong Company was represented by old friend Mark Hines who I met at the first IACP conference I went to in 2005. Mark and I bonded over the fact that his parent’s owned Irish Terriers…see it isn’t just my crazy family, reputable people own them as well. Some special people were missed as well, those that had passed in the year since the last conference (Jay Stull and Pam Green your lack of presence was felt all weekend) and those that just couldn’t make it because of the time of year or other obligations. The presentations by people such as Brian Kilcommons and Stanley Coren were amazing.

It was a fun time had by all and although Leinie was missed, I was able to hang out with everyone else’s dogs…that is the beauty of the IACP conference…dogs are allowed! Trainer Paula McCollum has a Bluetick Coonhound named Jeb that is one of the coolest dogs a person will ever meet….he graced us with a few artful bays and chased me down in the conference room once…he is a SAR dog so he’s good at that! Aunt Faye brought her English Shepherd, Captain. Captain’s brother Audie was there as well with Janeen McMurtrie. I like Captain better…Audie peed on my foot

Here is a picture of me with Karma, the new dog at That’s My Dog! Inc. owned by Robin MacFarlane.

So although it was a great weekend of seeing old friends, meeting new ones, playing with dogs, listening to some great presentations, and learning alot, I was very happy to return home to Pepper, Leinie and Virginia…even in the heat. Continuing education is very important to me. I make an effort to attend any workshops, confrences or seminars available so I can add to my toolbox of training.

Want to help your dog continue their education? Contact Follow Me Dog Training LLC for a FREE evaluation with your dog.

Going to Texas for IACP.

Follow Me Dog Training LLC is going to the annual conference for The International Association of Canine Professionals this week.

What is the IACP?

The INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CANINE PROFESSIONALS is an organization established to maintain the highest standards of professional and business practice among canine professionals. Its aim is  to  provide support and representation for all professional occupations involved with  any aspect of canine management, health, training and husbandry. 

The INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CANINE PROFESSIONALS commitment is to develop professional recognition, communication, education, understanding  and co-operation across the wide diversity of canine expertise and knowledge.

The IACP brings in speakers from all facets of the canine world to present on their specialties. This year’s conference will have noted speakers such as Stanley Coren, Wendy Volhard, Brian Kilcommoms, and Kayce Cover.

I have met some amazing people at the annual conference. Last year my traveling companion was Faye Kelley of Aunt Faye’s Dog Training. We were privledged to meet Dr. Ian Dunbar,

Brother Christopher the head trainer for the Monks of New Skete, 

Disc Dog Champion Melissa Heeter,

and Leinie got his picture in the local Hutto, TX paper (Thanks to Nancy Royden for the cool press) with the Russian dog trainer  Vladae Roytapel.

 The IACP conference is a great time for networking with canine professionals from all over the world. It provides many of us with mini-reunions as well. I am amazed every year when I see how many of the graduating students from the That’s My Dog! Inc. Ecademy show up with their dogs and chat about how far their business has come since their time in WI. I also have a chance to catch up with many graduates of the National K9 School For Dog Trainers.

There are usually great booths set up from companies like the KONG Company, Premier Pet Products, The Continental Kennel Club,  and CPAC so all the canine professionals can stay up to date with new products and information.

Unfortunately because of the high temperatures in Texas this time of year, Leinie is going to miss his first conference. Many of his friends will miss tossing a ball for him and I know he will miss learning new stuff from some of my trainer friends. He gets to have a little vacation with my mom who will be looking after him and Pepper along with her Irish Terrier Maggie. I know he’ll have fun here with “grandma”!

If you are a canine professional intereseted in the IACP, feel free to contact me or go to their website for further information. The association is open to all canine professionals; trainers, groomers, vets, handlers, breeders, therapy dog handlers…..you name it!

If you are interested in a FREE demonstration and evaluation with your dog to pursue some dog training, basic manners and clear communication, contact Follow Me Dog Training LLC.