DESIGNER PUPPYS: Everything you wanted to know about raising designer or mixed breed dogs,
featuring The BOYZ: Prince Alvin His Cuteness (on left) and Sir Simon The Sad, Cockapoo pups.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Tired of Your Dog Sleeping In Bed With You? Getting Kicked Or Growled At All Night? Try This Method

Are you tired of no sleep, being kicked in the head or growled at, but are still putting up with the dog sleeping in bed with you? Isn't this carrying the pack psychology a little too far?

You know the dog has to sleep elsewhere. Are you procrastinating because it's too difficult to get your best friend OUT of the bed and where he belongs - on the floor?

Here's My Short Story About Simon The Kicker
After not sleeping soundly for several weeks because Simon likes to stretch his legs and kick sleeping humans, it was time for action. (If you want to know how they got into the bed in the first place, it's a real long story!)

Try This Method
After consulting the dog training bible (Secrets to Dog Training), this is what worked:

  • Get dog beds or pillows for the dog(s) to sleep on.
  • At bedtime, tell the dog(s)to go to bed. You can lure them onto the dog beds with treats.
  • Get ready for bed as usual except do not let the dogs on your bed.
  • Luck has it that my dogs cannot get on the bed because it's too high, so it was protected with towels so they could not scratch the wood. They cried for about half an hour, then went to their pillows. You cannot let the dog onto the bed. If the dog is insistent, he goes into another room. You should try this on a weekend in case you're up a lot.
  • Amazingly, they slept until 5:00 AM the next morning when Simon insisted it was time to go out.

A Related Issue
One little glitch - Simon recently got into the habit of getting up at 3:00 AM. Since he is housebroken and can go for 8 hours without going out, he mainly gets up to get attention.

The solution to this problem aired on an episode of It's The Dog Or Me with Victoria Stilwell (It's Me or the Dog: How to Have the Perfect Pet).

Ignore him as long as you can. Use your judgment - if he's insistent, take him out. Simon's been moved to another room so he can't wake anyone. But do NOT keep getting up with the dog. He can sleep during the day - you most likely cannot do the same.

Tired of the dog sleeping in bed with you? Do something about it today and stop complaining! There is a solution!


Monday, April 26, 2010

New Puppy Owners: Need Help With Puppy Training Problems? Get Advice From People Who Understand Puppy Behavior

Ain't They Cute?(Would You Feel That Way If Simon (left) Ate Your Cell Phone?)

If you feel like I felt when you got a new puppy (and then, in my case, another new pup 4 months later) - you wonder (sometimes) if the little bugger is returnable.

When will this Marley-like monster stop biting, chewing, digging, and eating my shoes?

Then your not-so-helpful friends give you advice that totally FAILS!

What I found was I needed EXPERT help. Unfortunately, certified dog trainers charge $75 per hour (at least where I live!).

When I needed help with obedience training, I turned to as close as I could get to an actual trainer - a demonstration DVD - It's PAWSible! Dog Training and Puppy Training DVD. See
my blog post.

When I needed help with house training issues and dog behavior/aggression issues, I USE (yes, I continue to use this info - the dogs are about a year old) Secrets To Dog Training (videos, pdfs, and audios).

These experts help hundreds of dog owners every day!

They WILL help with your pup's training and behavior issues!

Thursday, April 15, 2010

The BEST Dog Obedience Training DVD - It's Pawsible!

Wow - Deja Vu all over again! Simon's breeder called yesterday. Seems she's looking for a dog obedience training DVD to recommend to the lucky people who get one of her perfect Cockapoo pups (they may be perfect, but they still need to be trained!).

Interestingly, her point was that she does not want the dogs she raises ending up in shelters because the owners fail to train them and they become Marleys.

She had googled the It's PAWSible! Dog Training and Puppy Training DVD and found the blog you are reading (probably because I raved about this DVD for about 6 - 8 months and still use it occasionally).

So, I talked briefly about why It's PAWSible! is the best dog obedience training DVD and how often I use it. This dog obedience training DVD is cheap and effective!

In case you are a "show me" type, check out this video of Beth Ostrowski-Parks, the It's Pawsible! Certified Professional Trainer. She explains why getting the dog's attention is all important.



Friday, April 2, 2010

How To Handle The Barking Dog Problem

Yes, I am the picture of cuteness, but I like to bark - a lot!

As usual, Secrets To Dog Training has an answer to a common dog behavior issue. Like most dogs, Alvin barks at strangers. Lately, his barking has become obsessive. So, I turned to Secrets To Dog Training for a way to handle the situation.

Here's a summary of how the dog training "bible" can help you with a problem such as excessive barking. This is a testimonial from a recent Secrets To Dog Training newsletter:
I wanted to send you a testimonial on how wonderful your book was, and how much it helped my little Sydney, who is a year and a half old yorkie. Thank you for your help! Sydney is my one and a half year old yorkie who was having problems barking whenever anyone came to the door, we passed by anyone on our walks, and anytime she heard something outside.

I tried your techniques with the squirt gun and what a difference it has made. Everytime I hold the water gun now, she knows that she should be quiet. I had to learn that I needed to become the alpha with her and not let her run the household. She is a very pampered princess, but now Sydney knows who is the boss. Your books are a great refresher to read and each time I find new information. Thank you for your help!

-- Mara Giampaola (New York, USA)