When you have both children and dogs, the little ones can get snappy. And I’m not just talking about the dogs! Read the July 24, 2011 For Better or Worse comic, and you may get a new perspective!

This is a tolerant dog who loves his boy! Most dogs don't like this level of closeness - think of the appropriateness of hugging a stranger.

Teach your child to behave appropriately, and not only will your dog thank you, but your child will become safer around other people’s pets. Some tips for your child are:

1. Use walking feet and inside voices. Dogs see a running screaming child as a playmate, and dog play sometimes involves jumping and nipping.
2. Always ask an adult before approaching someone’s pet.
3. Approach dogs from the front so they see you coming.
4. Let the dog sniff you first, then pet him on the neck – not the head.

Learn how to read dog emotions so you can help your child meet and interact with family dogs. For more information on reading dog body language, see our blog entry What is Your Dog Telling You? Read His Lips…

Still having nipping problems? Find a trainer who specializes in aggression issues. Be prepared that good trainers teach people as well as train dogs, and you and your family will need to do some homework. If training with a professional doesn’t work, your dog may not be suited for a household with children. To find a new home, go through a no-kill organization to guarantee your dog is adopted rather than euthanized.

Your dog (and everyone else’s) will thank you!

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Problems with your dog bolting through the front door so she can run around the neighborhood? Perhaps your dog is always tripping you as you walk through the door. Solve the problem by teaching your dog to “stay at the door.”

Your dog will need a basic sit, stay, and release. But by training a few minutes every day (perhaps just before putting his dinner bowl down…) you can have a dog that behaves well at the door.

Watch this video lesson to teach your dog to stay at the door.

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Pulling on the leash is a common behavior problem many dog owners experience. Let’s face it, to the dog, pulling is rewarded because he gets to the destination faster!

Read my library article outlining positive training techniques and tools to teach your dog to stop pulling – rewarding for proper positioning, changing your direction, or using an Easy Walk harness or Gentle Leader head collar. For each of these methods, use a 6 foot flat leash, not a retractable leash.

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We are constantly wishing our dogs would quit doing this or that – quit jumping up, quit running away, quit getting in the trash. But I have found that if you can focus on your dog’s strengths, the bad behavior diminishes. Take for example Ricochet – the service dog in training…

My proudest example is Kalee. When we adopted her at four years old, she was always in the trash and jumping the fence to explore the neighborhood on her own. It took my friend Kathy pointing out that if she likes to jump and run, we should try dog agility. Kathy was right. Not only did Kalee stop jumping the fence and getting into things around the house, but agility training led me down a long path (10+ years) of dog sports, and the added benefit of a very well mannered dog who listens and loves nothing more than waiting for my next request.

Troubles with your dog? Look for what your dog does well, and capitalize on that!

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For the past three years I have been recommending the Easy Walk™ harness, a product of Gentle Leader, manufactured by Premier to all my puppy and obedience classes. I started using the harness when I got my youngest Australian Shepherd three years ago. Walking both my Aussies was challenging, but with the harnesses they are both under control. Those of my students who have purchased it have been very pleased and now enjoy walking their dog.

The Easy Walk™ harness is different from other harnesses in that the clip to the leash is on the chest area instead of on the shoulder area. Think of this, the dog’s power and strength is in the shoulders. With the clip on the chest when the dog pulls it puts pressure on the chest which stops the pulling. So when they pull out in front of the handler and they reach the end of the leash the tension on the leash turns the dog back to be face to face with the handler. At that moment the handler acknowledges the dog and shows the dog the correct place to walk is next to his leg.

As associate of mine is a professional dog walker and recently sent me this testimonial – (more…)

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