With consistency this method will save you a lot of frustration and scars. When a dog is a puppy he doesn’t understand that we don’t play like his littermates. This can be extremely challenging when you have small children. This is the time to get your puppy accustom to how to act with children. We do this through quiet time, having the puppy understand that every time he sees children it is not play time.

In the long run you will have a trained puppy that can be a part of the family without driving the family crazy.

By: Wendy Aston Training Supervisor, Florida K9 Services, Inc.

With the larger breeds we will discourage starting the habit. It is much harder to change a habit then it is to correct the dog in the beginning. The habit of getting on the furniture is one of the hardest habits to break.

Many customers say they have an old couch or chair that they don’t care if the dog gets on that furniture. I would be the first to point out that the dog doesn’t get that it is old furniture, and once you get rid of it he will move to another piece.

You may also find that your dog decides that no one else is allowed on his furniture. This can lead to a bad situation when he decides to become possessive. One unknowing guest and a bite can change your dogs’ future.

Once some dogs have adopted this habit, there will be a long road of dog training to correct it.

We feel it wise to tell people if you want to snuggle with your dog, do so on the floor. Your dog will still feel special and you still get all the love without a bad habit.

By: Wendy Aston, Training Supervisor, Florida K9 Services, Inc.

From the viewpoint of training it really makes no difference, it doesn’t affect the mentality of your dog. However, in some of the small breeds it might aid in housebreaking training.

It is an old wives tale that neutering a male will stop him from wandering. It only affects the ability to perform, not the want. He will still become excited when a female is in season, and try to perform.

With a male dog if you own a pure bread dog and might want a pup from him one day you can leave him intact. If you don’t think that you will want an offspring form your male, neuter him this can save him other health issues in the future. The female on the other hand, if you are not planning on breeding her, you might as well get her fixed. The female heat is quite messy and can be smelly also.

The drawback to spaying your female dog is that she may gain weight. Keep a close eye on her diet once she is spayed, an overweight dog can have many more health issues.

By: Wendy Aston, Training Supervisor, Florida K9 Services, Inc.

There are a few things you can do to make social time much better for you, your dog and people in general. First start close to home; I might just have some quiet time in the front yard while my neighbors are out gardening. Then you can make short treks out and about the neighborhood. At first steer clear of other people and dogs. Your dog needs to see that there are other dogs and people in the world, but they don’t have to be a part of his world yet. Your dog will learn to relax about these distractions, once he has been exposed to them over a period of time. We don’t want him to have to learn everything in one day. These are just some basic dog obedience manners.

Your dog will learn that he is not a part of every activity that he sees. He may also look to you to see if he is allowed to participate. You can reassure him that he is being good, or give him the O.K. to go play. Your dog will need to be allowed to participate in some activities, but you want him to wait for permission.

By: Wendy Aston, Training Supervisor, Florida K9 Services, Inc.

We at Florida K9 Services, insist during dog training, that the dog be told what is expected of him. If your dog knows what you want there is a much higher percentage that you will get it. You don’t always need to use the verbal commands to communicate with your dog, you can also use physical ques. Dogs have such a strong associative nature they will know what you want by the way you move.

With all of our dog training and boarding programs, we use this association method in teaching the dog how to read your body language as well as your verbal ques.

In the early stages of training we work with very deliberate and consistent movements to get the dog understanding what is expected. Then we transition to a more natural and smooth movement to help our dog to adapt to non-trainers.

Once you think about how associative your dog is it will surprise you. Note that your dog knows when you pick up your keys that you are leaving. Your dog doesn’t know that the keys go to the car and house; he just knows that you pick them up every time that you leave.

A well trained dog uses this association in all of its exercises and real life.

By: Wendy Aston, Training Supervisor, Florida K9 Services, inc

We often have people call before they get a dog to get advice. This is really good for the new dog shopper, to ask advice from people who deal with many breeds. We have a different opinion of the breeds then the breeders do.

A breeder is an enthusiast for which ever breed they are breeding. This lends them to favor that breed and may feel that their particular breed is good for any situation. This can lead you down the “rosy path”.

You need an objective opinion on the breeds you are considering. You may start to narrow your search by deciding on the size of the dog first. Then what is your house hold like? Do you have very small children or older children or none at all? Do you want a dog to work for you as in protection or herding?

There are some breeds that are later at maturing so they have puppyhood going on until they are around two years old some mature faster. Some have stronger retrieve drive for playing ball or hunting others are great companions.

I hope this can get your list narrowed down so you may then research the few breeds that you have chosen.

By: Wendy Aston, Training Supervisor, Florida K9 Services

If your dog is out of shape remember he doesn’t think about how this is going to hurt tomorrow. You need to do that for him. For example, your dog will chase that ball until you quit. He may not be up to as much as you, remember he is the one doing the running.

Your dog may not be used to being on the pavement from his extended rest. This could tear up his paws, think about how tender your feet are in the spring when you have been wearing shoes all winter. Your dog will do the running you want him to, then pay for it later. He wants to please you and doesn’t think of the consequences.

If you want to run with your dog, you will need to train him to go the distance. None of us can just decide to run 10 miles, neither can your dog. Start with short runs and build up, remember if he is not used to being on pavement he could tear up his paws or wear his nails down to expose the quick. This can be very painful and make your dog not want to participate in your activities. This applies to obedience training also, don’t push him to the point he doesn’t like working with you. Yes, I said working with you not for you.

Your dog has so much heart and drive, he wants to please you and will not consider slowing down if you don’t. Think for him, so he can enjoy the activities as much as you do.

By: Wendy Aston, Training Supervisor, Florida K9 Services, INC.

What is the deal with cats? They don’t have to listen, or go to obedience school. They have permission to get on the furniture, and when they ask me to play I get in trouble. If I run room to room, it means I need dog training. When the cat does it my people are looking for a camera. They never have to wear a leash.  I guess I am doomed to live this double standard life.

How come I can’t go for a ride every time they go for a ride? Where do they go? What do they do? Why I am not included in this adventure?

How come the sprinklers don’t stop when I bite them?  Why can’t I chase the lawn mower? Why do people think I don’t want to play in the rain?

How come they don’t get it when I stare at the refrigerator? Who says I’m not supposed to have people food. It doesn’t say unsafe for dogs on it, does it? If it’s unfit for me what are they doing eating it?

Translated by: Wendy Aston Training Supervisor, Florida K9 Service, INC

We have several areas where the puppies are not only learning independence, but the basic rules. We set the room up with a few shoes, some cables that aren’t plugged in and papers on the desk. All things that can get a puppy in to trouble; we also put toys and chew bones in the room so that there is a chance for a good decision.

Now we just give it time so that once the puppy decides what he is going to do, we can either praise him or correct him. This includes housebreaking training.

Our goal is to develop good habits and discourage any bad behavior so that when our puppy is ready for dog obedience training we have a strong foundation of communication. Remembering to being consistent with what is deemed acceptable and what is not acceptable, will make a big difference to the overall out come.

If something is not allowed, we don’t have a day where it’s OK. Your puppy is very habitual you don’t want to get him started on something that you are going to have to correct him for tomorrow

Now I can walk into the vet’s office, my dogs sit by my side while I sign in and fill out any paperwork. The vets and vet techs are happy to see me AND my dogs. I find they get better care and treatment when they are well mannered.

Checking out is a breeze while other dogs are pulling their owners through the lobby to exit the vets, my dogs patiently wait by my side on leash until it is time to leave.

With a farewell to the staff we make our way to my truck and one at a time they jump in ready for our next adventure.

By: Sharon Burch, Senior Trainer, Florida K9 Services, Inc.