Elite Pet Care- Seattle Dog Walker 206-777-5327

Posts Tagged ‘dog training’

Walking your dog is crucial to its health. Sometimes walking your dog around the block isn’t enough. Sometimes walking your dog for an hour isn’t enough. You know the types, those that will play fetch til they keel over, those that are always looking for a toy to play with. There are some dogs that need more then a walk around the block to tire them out physically and mentally.

Keeping up on your dogs walking routine will also help with your dog training. A tired balanced dog is a well behaved dog! So whether you hire a Seattle dog walker, or do it yourself, make sure your dog is walked daily!

For those crunched on time, one way that I have found to tire dogs out faster is with a dog back pack. These are packs that the dogs carry, great idea, I know! The packs give the dog a “job” and make it feel important.  When you put water bottles in the sides, it also adds weight, making the dogs work a little bit harder on their walks/hikes, thus tiring them out faster. This is great because while the dogs have crazy energy, we as their dog walkers don’t!

Note the walking collar as well as the back pack.

Dog walking gear is sold at pet supply stores. Or online. Shop around for prices as they seem to vary from store to store.
I use the Outward Hound pack for my large dog clients, this website has amazing prices:
http://www.myoutwardhound.com/backpacks-for-dogs-dog-backpacks.html
And I recently bought a small outward hound dog pack from Bark! in Ballard,
http://www.barknaturalpet.com/

There are dog booties if you are going on rocky trails, icy or hot pavement:
http://www.ruffwear.com/Barkn-Boots-Grip-Trex?sc=2&category=7853

And always make sure you bring a light snack for them for energy and plenty of water.
Elite Pet Care offers 3 hour dog excursions and will back pack your dog upon request.

Happy trails!

One of the most common bad behaviors that I see when I am on my pet sitting rounds is door charging.
Dogs that try to get out of the door when ever it is open is dangerous and rude! Alphas always go through a door first
so it is important that you teach your dog to only go through when you say so.
This training is easy! This blog will just focus on dogs that are going to go for a walk.
Your dog is probably going to get to the door before you like Roxie pictured below.  She wants to go and she wants to lead.  No can do Roxie!   (ps she actually knows better and i had to make her misbehave to get this example picture)

Reel her back and stand in between her and the door. If needed back up the dog so she isnt crowding the door. Have confidence and be the leader. Your dog just needs you to tell her what to do. They dont know how to act unless you tell them!

Have your dog sit and stay.Face her and open the door with your free hand.
If she moves a muscle say  “eghttt” deep and stern and take a step forward and make her sit again.
With the door open, keep your dog in a sit and stay. If needed, put your free hand up in the universal “stay” sign.
Give the leash some slack and walk backwards out the door, keeping an eye on the dog and keeping her
in a sit. If she budges, repeat the process of “egth. sit.stay”

You can have your dog sit like this as long as you like. Sometimes I go in a second. Sometimes I make the dogs sit for a minute. This gets them to respect me as a leader and learn that they follow me. We  go when the alpha wants to go… we make the rules. Being PACK LEADER rules!!! And our dogs need and respect the structure and discipline!

Once you are out of the door, you can lighten your voice and give a playful”ok!” and encourage the dog outside.
Once outside, have the dog sit and stay while you close the door and lock up.

Enjoy your walk!