Simply – No! It is never too late to do training!

Obviously young puppies greatly benefit from training. It provides rules, boundaries and discipline whereby a puppy can grow up into a confident, well adjusted dog. Training teaches dogs how to be dogs in a human world.

Sometimes a training class teaches the humans stewards more than the dog! Training teaches how to consistently communicate with your dog. Training teaches people leadership. I find that too many people do not take the role of leader in the house as seriously as they should, and then the dog flounders. Dogs look for and need leaders of the pack. If they cannot find good leadership, the dog will take over the house and then you can run into behavioral problems. As humans we should be their leader first and a friend second.

I ran a rescue group for eight years and I always have recommended that a re-homed dog, regardless of age, should go through a basic training class. Whether or not the dog had training in their previous life, having the new family go through training with the new dog will help enhance good leadership relationships in the new home. It will also reinforce those consistent communication skills and provide structure in the new environment.

A group training class will also provide a safe place for your dog to socialize; and, the other dogs and people in the class will be good distractions for training.

We all like spending time with our dogs. That is usually one reason we have one or more. Training should be fun and is a great family project!

So go have some fun. It is a very worthwhile investment!

Tina
MerryMac Dog Training & Nutrition Center

Phone: 770-579-3865

Nicholas

Nicholas,
Dogs certainly can feel stressed at the holidays. But they obviously don’t stress for the same reasons we stress. What our canine companions can stress from is our reactions to the busy season. We all have so much more to do; shopping, entertaining, wrapping, decorating, etc., and, with all those additional activities, it stresses us more than normal. Anytime we are stressed or anxious, the dogs will feel the energy from your emotions. And, just like people, all dogs react differently to those energies, anxiousness, and emotions.

I find that when I get so busy and feel I am being pulled in many directions, it helps me , as well as my dogs, to just STOP for a few minutes. Even if I have a thousand things to do, I take the time to sit down on the floor with my dogs. I play with them, I pet and love on them. I find it relaxes me as much as it does my dogs. It has even been proven that petting a pet can lower your blood pressure. I feel better because I gave my dogs some one-on-one time and I know they enjoyed that personal time with me.

I actually make it a point to STOP every day, either in the morning or before we go to bed, to play with my dogs. Life gets so crazy and the days just seem to fly by, so take the moment! You will both be glad you did!

Tina
MerryMac Dog Training & Nutrition Center

Phone: 770-579-3865

Shelley

Table food can be a great way to add variety to a dog’s diet, contrary to what we were all taught.

It is important to remember that there are certain foods which are not appropriate for dogs, i.e. chocolate, macadamia nuts, most seasonings, etc. Be sure that you don’t feed from the table and instead, put them in the dogs bowl and serve them on the floor where your dog normally eats his/her meals.

If you are old enough to remember, until about 40 – 50 years ago, there were no commercial dog’s foods. The dogs ate the scraps of what we didn’t eat at a particular meal, or two. Just make sure you are giving your dog healthy choices, no fried foods, potato chips, etc.

Tina

Tina McCain
Master Dog Trainer/Behaviorist
MerryMac Dog Training & Nutrition Center
Phone (770) 579-3865
Fax (770) 579-4470
http://www.merrymacdogtraining.com

Hi Katie,

One of the reasons most people have dogs is for alerting us when someone is around. And it is very normal when they do bark to notify us. If your dog gets quiet when you ask him to, that is great! Good job!

However, if your dog “goes through the door”, then you might consider some behavior modification to help resolve the intensity of the reaction.

I would recommend that when you are home and supervising your dog, have him wear/drag a leash around, so when a situation arises where is trying to “go through the door”, you can grab the leash and pull him back away from the door until he calms himself. Make sure your praise him when he gets calm and quiet. You may have to repeat this several times before you see an improvement, but as with everything training, practice makes perfect.

There are some other tools we can use if you need help beyond the above. If so, please be sure to give me a call and we can set up an appointment.

Tina
MerryMac Dog Training & Nutrition Center

Phone: 770-579-3865

The most common symptoms of food allergies are: chewing and licking of the feet, chronic ear infections, and scratching/itching.

The most common food ingredients that dogs are allergic to are: corn, wheat and soy.

Even if your dog does not show any allergic symptoms, dogs cannot readily digest corn, wheat or soy. It sits in the stomach and ferments. Sometimes it ferments to the point that it makes the dog nauseas and they throw up a yellow bile. Otherwise the only thing that happens when a dog eats corn, wheat or soy, is that it creates volumes of excess stool.

Corn, wheat and/or soy have relatively no nutritional value for the dog. It is a cheap filler. And remember, most of the lesser quality dog goods only use ingredients that are not fit for human consumption. So it is a useless, low quality ingredient.

Regardless of what you spend on your dry kibble or treats, read your ingredient panels and avoid corn, wheat, soy or any glutens.

As far as “organic”, in most cases organic ingredients are cost prohibitive. Some products have some organic ingredients in them but not all ingredients. At the moment, organic is not as available for our pets as it is for us.

Tina McCain
MerryMac Dog Training & Nutrition Center

Phone: 770-579-3865

Hi Carolyn,

While we all want our dogs to bark to alert us of someone or something, as you indicated, that is one reason why we might have a dog as a companion. However, we also need to teach them to be “Quiet” when we ask them to.

With reference to barking, I have a three strike rule, I will ask my dog to “Quiet” two times, and if they don’t get quiet by the second request, I make sure I remove the dog from the situation or use other tools in my “toolbox” to help with getting the dog to be “Quiet”.

It is also important for me to know when is the dog barking? (i.e. – when the doorbell rings, outside in the fenced yard, out on a walk, etc.)

In order for me to better respond to the question, as barking is a training opportunity, please give me a call and I would be happy to help further with this behavioral issue.

Tina McCain
MerryMac Dog Training & Nutrition Center

Sprayberry Square Shopping Center
2550 Sandy Plains Road NE, Suite 365
Marietta, GA 30066

Phone: 770-579-3865

Rachael graduated from Animal Behavior College in Los Angeles. She shadowed Angie Woods. the Atlanta Dog Whisperer, for five months. She has attended many seminars on dog behavior and psychology with world renowned dog psychologist/behaviorist. She volunteers at shelters working with dogs and doing evaluations and belongs to the Georgia Dog Trainers Forum. Her company, K-9 Second Chance specializes in training and behavior modification.

Does there come a point in time when a dog is too old to train? In other words, can you really teach an old dog new tricks?
Shari

Hi Shari,
ABSOLUTELY!!!
You can teach an old dog new tricks. With a little more patience’s you can teach an old dog how to behave in all situations, obedience commands and tricks. Using rewarding positive techniques your dog will enjoy and want to learn anything you wish to teach them. Never use NEGATIVE punishment. It DOESN’T work and your dog will only learn to fear you.
Give the dog a high valued treat for the behaviors you want. Such as sitting, being quiet etc. Ignore the behaviors you don’t like. Use a “conditional stimulus” to get your dog to do the desired behaviors. Give the dog a command then when he does the desired behavior say yes and treat. If they don’t do the command no reward. After five or so seconds ask for the behavior again.
Senior dogs are happy to learn and need new stimulation. Don’t let creaky joints or gray hair stop you.
Remember they still need to go for a walk daily even if it’s to the end of the block and back. Lying dogs end up lying deep in the ground.

Happy Waggin’,
Rachael