Professional Puppy Training - Patch

View full size Ann Greene, A Tail Above, uses bitter spray on the leash to break a chewing urge by puppy Raine. Your photos, videos & PDFs: Add

“I have an amazing job,” said Ann Greene of A Tail Above. “I act as a benevolent leader when training my own dogs and others.”

Greene is a certified professional dog trainer who works in Annapolis and surrounding areas. The dogs she trains range from puppies to mature dogs with behavior issues. Classes are held in Greene's dog training room that was once an apartment in her Severn home.

Patch was invited to attend a puppy training class with a new client, Raine, a 10-week-old chocolate Labrador retriever. The Kellners of Bowie adopted Raine after their other chocolate lab passed away.

The family had a good experience with their other dog without any formal training. Yet, they opted to get training for Raine. Puppy training classes cover a lot of topics including review of basic commands, collars, leashes, crate training and much more. The Kellners clearly had been working with Raine, who promptly responded to the “come” command on the first time from Greene.

“Establishing a 'look' from your dog when you call [his or her] name is an important step for further training,” said Greene, while instructing the Kellner family.

A look consists of a dog making eye contact when called to receive more direction. This can be especially important when mastering more focused training for agility or other disciplined programs for dogs.

One of the biggest complaints that puppy owners have is chewing — some pups will chew shoes, the leash or furniture. Greene was able to demonstrate an effective way to teach dogs the "out" command, used to tell dogs to take something out of their mouths. A bitter apple spray, which is harmless for dogs and non-toxic, usually discourages continued mouthing. While using the spray, the command is repeated to provide association for the dog and is followed by either praise or a treat.

“Alternate between food rewards and praise to mix it up,” suggests Greene.

Raine was chewing on her leash during the class when she should have been learning a loose leash walk. With the Kellners' permission, Greene applied the spray to the leash and Raine quickly stopped chewing it.

Greene recommends the use of treats during a training session to help keep the stress levels of the dog lower and for families to be consistent with the commands that are used.

In addition to classes, Greene hits the road and locations vary depending on the training plan. She has run training sessions in local dog parks, Main Street in downtown Annapolis, and on boat docks. 

A Tail Above even offers a residency program for intense training with Greene, followed by a “go home” training session that teaches the dog owners how to reinforce what the dog has learned and another session a week later to keep the dog and owner on track.

For more information on dog training by A Tail Above, call 410-774-4575.

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VIDEO: Tailwaggers Offer Dog Training in New Lenox - Patch

View full size Tailwaggers leader Pat Woicek talks to visitors during an open house Saturday. She's with her two black Russian terriers, Nush and Risky. Your photos, videos & PDFs: Add

Sit. Stay. Grab a snack.

Those were the suggestions at a Will County 4-H Tailwaggers open house Saturday to people interested in joining the club and getting obedience training for their dogs. The Tailwaggers moved its training to the Stone City Kennel Club in New Lenox this year, and training sessions officially begin next week.

Because of scheduling issues, the Tailwaggers sought help from Stone City, and ended up getting to use its facility for free.

"We had some free times and said it would be a good thing," said Karen Simmons of the Stone City Kennel Club. "We try to keep the building busy. We’re very proactive about education and we like to encourage kids to get involved. It gives them some responsibility with their pets."

Training sessions are held from 1 to 3 p.m. every Saturday from January through July. They're offered for free to 4-H club members; an annual membership costs $23.

Participants also have the chance to join in other Tailwaggers activities, such as dog show competitions. For example, there's a junior dog judging event next month at the Chicago International Kennel Club Dog Show, and each child gets two free tickets.

"We have kids working their dogs from the ages of 8 up," said Tailwaggers leader Pat Woicek. "We have everything from little bitty dogs, great big dogs. We run the gamut of brand new, just learning kids and dogs to ones who have been around a while."

At the open house, children who have already been through training showed off what they learned, include some vocal and hand-directed commands. One of them, Jaecee Burkart, 17, said she's been with the Tailwaggers since she was 10.

"It takes a lot of patience and dedication," she said. "When you get a puppy it’s hard to handle them, but you bring them here and you learn a lot."

Training starts at 1 p.m. Saturday and goes through July. Besides being happy and bringing you and your dog, the Tailwaggers say you'll need a training collar with no tags on it and a 6-foot leash. For more information, contact Pat or Wayne Woicek at 708-481-1313 or patwoicek@ameritech.net.

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Getting Pets Ready for Adoption - Patch

I don’t ask a lot from my dogs. Aside from our sanitation agreement (their job is placement; mine, removal), just walk calmly on the leash and leave my gym socks alone. That last rule seems to be in perpetual negotiation.

After an hour at the Pasadena Humane Society with two professional dog trainers, I left  a convert to this simple but significant message:

“Some behaviors you modify, and some you manage,” said Drew Marsden, Behavior & Training Supervisor. Modify aggression, jumping, anxiety. But  if Pumpkin always explores your trashcan, well here’s a thought: Move the trashcan. Or the gym socks.  

Getting pets adopted and making sure they stay adopted means new pet owners need to be able to manage their new family members.  That's where Marsden and Behavior & Training Technician Shelly Valdovinos come in.

They have lots of good advice for new and existing pet owners. Some common sense, some surprising.  Here’s a sample of a few specifics:

Dogs who pull on the leash:  Consider a harness or a gentle leader rather than a choke or prong collar. When used with anything but the most skillful hand, a choke chain shuts off the air passage -- the dog will only care about drawing the next breath.  Vary the walk, don’t always go to the same destination, particularly if that destination has a reward. Try “crazy walking,” constantly turning so your dog can never get up a good head of steam in any one direction.

Dogs who jump on people:  Turn your back, pay no attention. Attention rewards the behavior.  If that doesn’t work, and depending on the dog, you might try walking straight into him. Humans are not the only ones who need their space. This technique may take all the fun out of leaping on bipeds.

The “Velcro” dog:  When you leave the house and when you come back, are you making a big deal out of it? Don’t. That’s just telling your buddy there’s something very significant about departures and arrivals. Channel your inner Gary Cooper; come and go with a simple "So long," and "Hi there."

Dogs who are shy or fearful:  Make all your interactions a positive experience. Never speak harshly or impatiently. Dogs are extremely sensitive to body language – they notice everything -- the way we stand, gestures, facial expressions.

Pay attention to the signals you send. (Fear is one of the most common problems Marsden and Valdovinos encounter with new canine arrivals.  And one of the most surmountable. The video shows one technique to help build the dog’s sense of confidence and trust. This brindle boxer mix deeply mistrusts my camera, but really loves Marsden. See what he does.)

When deciding on a pet, base your choice on temperament, not looks. No matter how much the pup resembles your childhood Misty, coat, color, even breed tell only a small part of the story.

The trainers at the Pasadena Humane Society put in long hours to understand the behavior and needs of all their dogs. Every arrival goes through a series of tests (see other video) to determine such things as sensitivity to touch, playfulness, aggressions, compatibility with other animals. Prior to adoption, ask the shelter for their thoughts and experiences with the dog.

And keep in mind, when you adopt, there will be a period of adjustment. You have a new dog, but for the dog, everything will be new and strange.  As Marsden said, “Be realistic in your expectations. Don’t expect your perfect companion in one or two weeks. And with any animal, training is a life-long process, there’s no magic wand; it takes work and dedication.”

Oh, and a word about the felines. Valdovinos not only trains dogs, but cats as well. Her own cat will sit on command. “Here's the difference between working with  cats and dogs,” she said, “Perception. When training a cat, let him think it’s his idea.”

(Warning: The videos are fun, but LOUD.)

Every week Altadena Patch will highlight a pet with unusual abilities or a special one who is looking for a new home.

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