Day 8: Brushing

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People often assume that their dog will enjoy being brushed as much as they enjoy brushing them. That is not necessarily the case. Some dogs find grooming uncomfortable. They may be sensitive to certain brush types or to being brushed in certain areas. Any change in your dog's reaction to brushing a certain area may be a clue of a health problem or injury. If your dog just doesn't much enjoy grooming, you can help him or her get more comfortable through gradual desensitization. Get treats and your brush. As you start to brush your dog, give a few treats or enlist someone else to help you by giving the treats. Don't try to do a full grooming session. Instead, try just a few brushes. If he seems ok, you can give more treats and continue. If he seems very uncomfortable, allow him to move away....
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Day 7: Burning Energy

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I don't know what weather you're having today, but it's snowing here Even worse, it's actually pretty cold. Cold enough that neither Sirius Black nor I want to spend a lot of time outside. However, that doesn't mean that Sirius doesn't have a normal amount of energy, so how are we going to help him burn that off? One of the strategies we are using is food toys. I have written before about using food toys for both dogs and cats. In addition to buying toys, you can also make them out of household objects. What makes a good toy for your pet will depend on their chewing habits and likelihood to ingest items like paper. Today, I gave Sirius his breakfast in a half an egg carton, which he pushed around the floor until he had emptied all the kibble out....
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Day 6: Practicing Recalls

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It's important to practice recalls frequently, and make them rewarding. Too often, we call our dogs for not-fun things (baths, nail trims, to end playtime). These can discourage responding to recalls in the future. For practicing distance recalls in open areas, use a long line or a confederate, as in this video. Be sure not to go too far and scare your dog, especially if using a long line. Since Sirius Black is blind, constant verbal reinforcement keeps him moving in the correct direction....
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Day 4: Sit for Leash

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Is putting on your dog's leash or harness a full contact sport? It doesn't have to be. Think about training to take the drama out of walk prep. When Sirius could see, he knew how to walk straight into his harness or collar. He cannot do that any longer, but he still knows how to sit and wait for his leash to be put on. As with any behavior, start with slight improvements from where you are. Don't expect to improve everything immediately. ...
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Day 3: Wait for Food Bowl

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Have you ever spilled the pet food all over the kitchen because your dog (or cat!) stuck his head in the bowl before it got onto the floor? If so, this exercise is for you. Work with your dog to sit or lie down until given a release cue. Eventually, you can start this behavior before you even get the food out and maintain a sit or down until the food is on the ground (and you have even taken a step or two away), but start slow. Ask for a sit or down as you hold the food bowl. Begin to gradually lower the bowl. If your dog stays in position longer than you expected, especially once he or she knows the food is coming, give the release cue....
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Day 2: Go Somewhere New

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Life always changes. Even if your dog is comfortable in all the places that are part of your daily routine now, you cannot be sure that routine won't change at some point during your dog's lifetime. It's good to work with your dog on comfort in new situations. Of course, the appropriate level at which to work on this depends on your dog. For more nervous dogs, taking a different walking route may be as much or more than your dog can handle. Confident dogs can handle a more challenging environment, but it still needs to be set to their level. I don't recommend starting even confident dogs with a new environment that will require them to stay for a long time. Look for something that allows a quick exit. In the DC-area, we have a number of dog-friendly bars and breweries, which can be a good place for this. Make sure you pick a time that the location is not likely...
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Day 1: Relaxed Down While You Move

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Relaxed down is one of my favorite activities, but it's true utility comes from incorporating it into everyday life. One way to do so is to help your dog remain calm and relaxed while you are moving around. Many times our dogs feel compelled to follow us—and we often encourage this—but it's not always convenient. Sometimes, we want our dogs to be able to stay still, and even relax, while we move around. Take the opportunity while you are doing something active but not all-absorbing to work with your dog on maintaining a relaxed down position. The photo at right was taken while I was playing Wii bowling. I had treats in my pockets and was rewarding Sirius Black occasionally for maintaining his position. This could be taken to the next level by looking for a more relaxed position from Sirius....
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January is Train Your Dog Month

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Happy New Year, everyone! January is a time when many of us reflect on the past year and make plans and set goals for the new year. If stepping up your training is one of your goals, why not start in January? January is also Train Your Dog Month, so it's a perfect fit. The Association of Professional Dog Trainers tip for 2017 is "Make training a part of your everyday life with your dog!" That's my goal for the month, and you can make it yours too. If you don't currently include basic training, such as sit before going outside or before getting dinner, this is a great time to start. If you already do this, you can step things up to the next level. To support this effort, I'll be sharing short daily posts with different training ideas, and also sharing the same ideas on Next Best Pet social media channels. Want to share your own dog training adventure? Use #31DaysofDogTraining...
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Costumes, Treats, and Tricks

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If the pumpkins, witches, and candy corn appearing everywhere didn't tip you off, let me be the first to tell you that Halloween is coming up this Monday. The time has come to prepare. I am not talking about the costume you have been laboring over for months or the mega bag of candy you bought at the superstore last month. I am talking about preparing your pets for a safe Halloween. Let's review three common Halloween dangers and how to prepare for them. Costumes Issue: Costumes may pose a risk to animals that ingest pieces of them, of course, but the bigger risk is animals being frightened by costume pieces which can alter your appearance, profile, way of moving and possibly even sound and smell. This applies to family members as well as friends, neighbors, and trick or treaters. Solution: Don't take your pets trick or treating with you or keep them with you when you answer your own door. Instead, confine them...
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