DeMaster Dog Training

Many thanks to My School Preschool for having Ringo and I this week to discuss dog safety!! Ringo helped teach the kids how to properly meet a dog, what to do when a dog jumps, what it means when a dog growls and what to do when a dog chases you!

This is part of the community outreach that I offer FOR FREE to local schools, troops and other facilities that work with children.

Ringo is always such a big hit with the kiddos and I always appreciate getting to spend time with him! ❤️❤️ Special thanks goes out to Ringo and his family!!

Here are the top 5 things I will never do with my dogs (as a dog trainer):
1. Take them to a dog park!
—besides all the diseases, too many opportunities for aggression and fights.
2. Allow them to have any meet-n-greets while on a leash/collar!
— It is so important for the dogs to give consent cues and their body language is too restrictive on a leash/collar/most harnesses.
3. Use a retractable leash!
—Too many reasons to list, but they are unreliable and dangerous for everyone!
4. Get littermates!
—Double the work, literally double, because they need 2 separate crates, food dishes, training schedules, and even with all of this, they may still suffer anxiety and/or aggression.
5. Leave food down for them all day!
—I use my dogs dish to help keep tabs on her health and mental wellness. You see, if your dog is ill, they will most likely reduce their food intake. If they are too anxious or nervous, they will also refuse food. And that is only one of the benefits!!
Reach out for more information or to schedule trainings!!!

I cringe every time I see a dog on a retractable leash.
If you still use one, please read this article!

Vets and Dog Trainers Want You to Stop Using Retractable Leashes A retractable leash might seem more convenient, but are there some reasons you shouldn’t use them? Read on to learn more about why retractable leashes might not be a good choice for you and your dog.

DeMaster Dog Training is working to go paperless!! Beginning this week, I’ll be working on typing notes and emailing them directly to you before I leave your house!

Please bear with me as I acclimate myself into this century. ❤️

As always, paper copies can be given if it’s more convenient for you!

I could not have said this any better myself.

Learning shouldn’t hurt. Period.

In order for punishment to be effective, the punishment must be significant enough that the dog will actively work to avoid it happening again. That means it has to be painful, uncomfortable, or scary enough for the dog to want to avoid a repeat. That means the dog is working out of fear of punishment, not motivation to succeed or work with a human. Even if on the other side you are reinforcing what you want the dog to do, the act of using punishment to create avoidance requires the dog to be more afraid of punishment then he is motivated by reinforcement. This means you cannot build trust with your dog. If your dog is afraid of being punished, at no time will he ever be able to fully trust you. The same is true for children, and well documented that punishment in children leads to sneaky, distrusting kids who avoid going to their caregivers for help when needed out of fear of punishment. The same goes for your dog. They cannot trust you and at the same time work to avoid being punished by you. Choose trust. Always choose trust.

I need help….

A lot of people ask me for suggestions on various dog services and while I have accumulated a number of options, there are a few things that I’m lacking suggestions for. If you, or someone you know, has used or provided services for the following, can you please share their info with me? There’s a trend swinging towards people wanting their dog in their own home or in a home vs a kennel.

Dog sitting at the owners home? Not looking for ones that stop in for short visits, but ones who stay on site and only watch the dogs in the house at one time.

Dog sitting at the house of a sitter?

People who offer pick-up/drop-off services? For example, a dog who might need picked up from a boarding facility and then brought home.