What a Great Dog!

My Dog is Stubborn! He only learns when he feels like it!

Maureen Patin CPDT-KA — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 00:52:57 +0000

Have you ever been frustrated by how “stubborn” your dog is about certain things. This blog is for you!

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Navigating the Puppy Blues! A Guide for Puppy Parents

Ashley Dickerson — Tue, 14 May 2024 20:39:24 +0000

Puppy Blues are a real thing! Here’s how to cope.

Welcoming a new puppy into your life is such a joyful experience. The anticipation of cuddles, playtime, and adventures with your pup can fill your heart with warmth and excitement. However, amidst the excitement, many puppy parents may find themselves experiencing unexpected emotions known as the “puppy blues.”

What are the puppy blues? Simply put, it’s a common phenomenon where puppy owners feel overwhelmed, stressed, or even sad after bringing their puppy home. While it’s normal to encounter challenges when caring for a young pup, the puppy blues can catch some off guard. I’d like to delve deeper into what causes the puppy blues and how you can navigate through them with patience and understanding.

Understanding the Puppy Blues

The puppy blues can manifest in various ways, from feelings of exhaustion due to disrupted sleep to the stress of housebreaking accidents and the constant need for supervision. Some puppy owners may also experience doubts about their ability to care for their puppy adequately, leading to feelings of guilt or anxiety.

It’s important to recognize that adjusting to life with a new puppy is a significant life change. Your daily routine may be disrupted, and you may find yourself facing challenges you hadn’t anticipated. Remember, it’s okay to feel overwhelmed, and you’re not alone in experiencing these emotions.

Coping Strategies for Puppy Blues

Set Realistic Expectations: It’s normal for your puppy to have accidents, “steal” household items, or even be a little unsure at a new sound that they’ve never heard before. Young puppies have physical, mental, and emotional limitations and will need to be heavily supervised and managed at this stage. Puppies also have a hard time regulating their energy and excitement levels and so they tend to get over-stimulated fairly quickly. Pro tips: Try to focus on your pup’s progress and celebrate the small victories along the way.

Seek Support: Don’t hesitate to reach out to fellow dog owners, friends, or family members who have been through similar experiences. Joining a local puppy training class can also provide valuable support and guidance. What A Great Dog! Training Center offers an assortment of specialty classes for your pup including Great Puppy Day School, Puppy Preschool sessions, Manners classes and Private Lessons that can help you through these challenging times. The Online Puppy Seminar gives good practical tips for living with a puppy.

Take Breaks: It’s essential to prioritize self-care during this adjustment period. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to take breaks and engage in activities that help you relax and recharge. With a little R&R, you’ll also be better equipped to care for your pup! Also, remember that puppies grow up lightning fast. When your pup matures a bit, your life will return to a more normal rhythm.

Focus on Bonding: Cherish the moments spent bonding with your puppy, whether it’s cuddling on the couch, giving your dog a chew, going for walks, or playing together. Building a strong bond with your puppy not only enhances your relationship but also helps alleviate feelings of stress.

Embrace the Journey: While the puppy blues may feel overwhelming at times, it’s essential to remember that they are temporary. As you and your puppy navigate through the ups and downs of puppyhood, you’ll develop a deeper bond built on love, trust, and understanding. Remember: raising a puppy takes time, patience, and a lot of consistency!

So, to all the new puppy parents out there experiencing the puppy blues, take a deep breath, give yourself a pat on the back, and know that brighter days are ahead. Your puppy may be small, but the love they bring into your life is immeasurable!

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What’s on Sale this Week?

Maureen Patin CPDT-KA — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 17:01:25 +0000

Check out this week’s SALE!

We have a lot of clearance items at a deep discount including:

Raw Rewards Beef Liver

Be Good Bites

Tenderollies

Bark & Harvest Burgers

Spin Slow Feeders

Instinct Pouches

Ziwi Cans

These items are going fast, be sure to stop by soon!

What a Great Dog! Training Center is committed to providing you with the highest quality foods, toys, treats, chews and more! The products in our retail stores have been carefully selected to provide you and your dog the very best in the industry. Our experienced staff members are ready to help answer your questions and consult with you on the best choices for your dog.

We strive to have the best prices on the best products available. Stop in today to see our fantastic selection – we know you’ll enjoy your visit!

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Unleashing Ways to Give Relief to Your Dog with Seasonal Allergies

Arden Moore — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 18:28:08 +0000

Welcome to spring time in Texas! Seasonal allergies may find you sneezing and reaching for the tissue box. But allergic reactions to trees, plants and grass in your dog may cause him to lick, scratch and nibble on his itchy skin and paws.

The Dallas metroplex actually ranks 19th among the worst cities in the United States for allergies due to its high pollen count, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

Can I get an achoo? Pollen from ragweed, cedar tree and grass do not discriminate, impacting people and pets. Mold and dust can also cause havoc.

Sadly, some dogs suffer from allergies year-round due to have sensitivities to certain foods or because of a side effect from a medication. But for this article, let’s hone in on helping canines coping with seasonal allergies. They may display any or all of these signs:

* Itchy skin

* Red, swollen spots on the skin (also known as hot spots)

* Scratching their bodies and ears

* Ear infections (that can be smell like dirty socks)

* Rolling on the grass or rubbing against furniture

* Excessive licking and nibbling the paws, belly and back

* Coughing

* Wheezing

* Nasal discharge and runny eyes

How can you offer relief for your dog? For starters, report any of the above-mentioned signs in your dog to your veterinarian without delay. The quicker your dog can be examined, the better chance he has for a specific treatment to ease his discomfort. In some cases, a veterinarian may prescribe topical and oral antibiotics, antihistamines or hydrocortisone sprays or creams.

You can do your part to unleash relief in your dog by considering these strategies:

* Wet and wipe. Get in the habit of using a warm, damp hand towel and wiping your dog’s paws and body after you both finish a long walk. This helps remove any pollen or allergens from your dog’s body.

* Dust and vacuum more often. You would be surprised by all the pollen and allergens that linger on surfaces and flooring. They act like magnets to your dog’s skin and paws.

* Change your air filters regularly. During allergy season, you may need to change them more frequently.

* Team up with your veterinarian. Seek recommendations from your veterinarian on selecting a gentle, hypoallergenic shampoo best suited for your dog’s coat and health condition. Also chat about the best natural supplements to give your dog to ease itchiness and boost skin health. Your dog may benefit by supplements containing coconut oil or fish oil (loaded with omega-3 and -6 fatty acids) and organic turmeric.

* Step up laundry duties. Wash and dry your dog’s bed and any throws you use on your furniture to boot out allergens weekly. And, gently use a damp washcloth to wash your dog’s favorite soft toys.

We can’t hit the pause button on pollen this spring in Texas, but by considering this game plan outlined, we can ease the seasonal allergic reactions in our dogs.

— Arden Moore is the founder of Pet First Aid 4U, best-selling author of host of the Oh Behave Show on Pet Life Radio. www.ardenmoore.com.

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Join us for Paint Your Pet – Spring Edition!

Maureen Patin CPDT-KA — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 23:15:06 +0000

Join us at WAGD Richardson on 3/15/24 from 6pm-8pm for a fun Spring edition pet painting party!

This event is now full. Call us to be added to our waitlist (972) 677-7094. Each painter will be provided with an 8×10 canvas prepped with a sketch of your pet (one pet per canvas). You are more than welcome to do a classic pet portrait if you’d prefer! Aislinn Meeks (art enthusiast!) will prep the canvases and be there to walk you through the painting process. Acrylic paints, brushes, and pallets will all be provided for you. Just BYOB, snacks, and painting clothes!

Requirements: This is a people only event. Please leave wagging tails at home! Participants must register and pay by 3/10 and no later

Class Fee: $40 per person Pre-enrollment is required After registering you will be contacted by Aislinn Meeks who will need clear reference photos from which to sketch from, and a list of ideas for you background, or whatever you’d like!

There are no refunds on this event – the artist is pre-making canvases and has time invested into each participant.

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Canine Respiratory Illness Impact

Maureen Patin CPDT-KA — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 19:44:53 +0000

The WAGD leadership team is keeping vigilant on the latest information on the current canine respiratory illness. We are in discussions with local veterinarians and are watching the American Veterinary Medical Association recommendations. Those sources indicate that the illness has been confirmed in only five states, all of which are either on the east or west coast. This illness is thought to spread much the same as other canine respiratory illnesses through direct contact or through water droplets from sneezing and coughing. Based on those facts we are taking the following steps to keep your dogs safe:

Continue our sanitizing protocol of the training rings and the outdoor turf
Require a minimum of 6′ distance between all dogs
No sharing of water bowls (disposable bowls provided)
Dogs displaying signs of illness are not allowed in the facility

At this time, we are not cancelling any training classes or lessons. We will continue to closely monitor for any new developments. Thank you for your continued support.

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Tips for Living with a Blind Dog

What a Great Dog — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 04:02:53 +0000

Tips for Living with a Blind Dog by Paige Varvel, Trainer

It can be challenging when a dog loses sight or if you’re adopting a blind dog into your home. There are many things to take into consideration when making your home a safe place for a pup with impaired or no vision.

Consider investing in a good pair of protective dog goggles (such as Rex Specs) to help protect your dog’s face and hopefully help them feel more confident in maneuvering around spaces. These dog goggles help protect your dog’s eyes from both outdoor elements as well as indoor hazards.
Create a consistent language for the dog to help build trust between them and the handler. Some examples include “step up/ step down” for stairs and curbs, “careful” to let them know they’re about to run into something, “easy” for slow down there are things in your path. These words, along with some others can really increase your bond with your pup as well as increasing their confidence in moving around with you.
If your pup is comfortable around other dogs, having buddies to follow and coexist with can really help with confidence. If you don’t have multiple dogs in your home, finding a dog friend that you can meet up with for walks or outings can help build your pup’s confidence.
It’s very important to keep the paths around the house as much the same as possible so your pup feels like they know where they are in their space. Establishing a good routine also helps them feel like they know when things will happen. Consistency is key.
Don’t panic/get upset when your pup bumps into something. Most of the time it upsets the people way more than the dog and overreacting to it concerns them way more than the actual bump.

Dogs with limited vision or blindness can continue to enjoy a wide variety of activities. My personal dog, Trip, lost his vision completely at age 7, and still participates in sports like Barnhunt, regularly hikes and travels around the country, and enjoys his daily stuffed Kongs and Toppls. With a bit of training and support, our blind dogs can continue to live active, joyful, fulfilled lives!

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Are Two Pups Better Than One? Insight on Littermate Syndrome

Maureen Patin CPDT-KA — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 13:39:33 +0000

Littermate syndrome is the term given to behavioral issues frequently seen when two pups of a similar age are raised together. It most often occurs when two pups from the same litter are adopted by a family, though it can also be seen when two unrelated pups are raised together. Interestingly, significant behavioral science studies have not been conducted on this issue. However, the anecdotal evidence is compelling. Professional trainers, veterinarians and responsible dog breeders are well aware of the prevelance and gravity of this all too common issue.

While it may sound ideal to raise two pups together, allowing them to become close friends, it’s actually far from it. Having multiple dogs can be a joy, and a major plus for the their quality of life, but it is best for each of the pups to be at least 6 months apart in age. When young pups are raised together, their relationship with each other hinders their social development and also prevents the essential bond between the pup and his humans from fully forming. Although littermate syndrome doesn’t develop every time two puppies are raised together, it is common enough that we strongly advise against getting two puppies at the same time. In our experience at What a Great Dog, where we work with thousands of dogs every year, RARELY do two pups raised together reach their full potential. It is far more common that serious behavior issues develop in one, or often both, pups.

Behavioral Issues Associated with Littermate Syndrome

From a young age, the two puppies form a very strong bond, learning and feeding off of each others emotions. That exclusive relationship seems to stunt both puppy’s social development. This typically leads to behavioral issues in one or both of the dogs. Those issues include some or all of the following:

Leash Reactivity
Frequent fighting between the two pups (often resulting in injury)
Fear of strange people and/or dogs, often leading to fear aggression
Fear when encountering new situations when alone
Less than ideal training outcomes, as the pups devalue their relationships with humans

Even when these issues aren’t seen early on, they will often intensify as the pups develop toward maturity. Fear and aggression are seen in littermates raised together even in breeds that are not prone to aggressive behavior.

Littermate syndrome can sometimes be managed, but it is a lot of work. Working to prevent littermate syndrome will easily result in 2 – 3x the workload of raising a single pup properly. It’s also important to highlight the fact that once one or both pups are experiencing these issues, simply separating the pups will not solve the issues. The serious behavioral consequences can be lifelong. While behavior modification can be effective. It is a long road that not all families are in a position to take on.

When counseling families on this issue we’ll often hear “If this is such a big problem, why didn’t the breeder tell me about it? She encouraged us to take two pups so they could be best friends!” There are two reasons why this happens. First, breeders are motivated to place puppies. Selling two pups in one transaction is tempting. The second reason is that most breeders are not experts in dog behavior. They have litters and sell the pups, then move on to the next litter. There are highly responsible and educated dog breeders. Breeders who are well educated on dog behavior refrain from placing two puppies in the same home.

How to Avoid Littermate Syndrome

The easiest way to prevent littermate syndrome is to only take one puppy at a time. It is always tempting to take two because they are super cute together. And, it seems like things will be easier because “they will entertain each other.” But an important piece of preventing littermate syndrome is to largely keep the pups separated, allowing very limited time to play together. Having two dogs who are young and energetic at the same time is a good idea, BUT it’s essential that you wait at least 6 – 9 months after getting the first pup before adding a second one to your family. We feel so strongly about this that we regularly counsel families with littermate pups to consider rehoming (or returning to breeder) one of the pups. This is especially the case if we are already seeing behavioral issues. Returning a 12 week old pup to the breeder may be difficult. But trying to rehome an adolescent dog with serious behavior issues is beyond difficult and heartbreaking.

I have Two Puppies and I Need to Keep Both

If you already have two puppies and are intent on keeping them together, then it’s critical that you form a solid plan. The main things you’ll want to achieve are confidence and good social behavior in each of the pups both when they are separated from each other and when they are together. The key is to ensure that both pups individually have all the necessary positive social experiences while they are still in their critical socialization period (under 16 weeks).

Each pup will need daily, individual outings, without the other puppy, where they are exposed to new environments and see strange dogs and people. The goal is to individually socialize each pup to new experiences, as they learn to rely on their person and not the other pup. Just like when raising any pup, it will be important to expose them to the things they will likely encounter throughout their lives, like: people with different characteristics (different ethnicities, beards, sunglasses, hats, canes, walkers, etc.) They also need to see a wide variety of dogs. Ideally, the pups aren’t greeting all the people and dogs they see, but instead getting good passive socialization from a bit of a distance.

Group training classes are important for all pups, but essential for littermates being raised together. Each pup should be in a separate class. This will be key to developing a strong bond between the pup and his people.

Only after each pup is showing healthy social behaviors and has a solid start on training should you start training the pups together. A great exercise is walking the pups together, each with a different handler. Walk for a bit, then split into two different directions. The pups should be highly rewarded for going with their handler away from the other pup. Practice training with the pups at a distance, but in sight of each other.

When you crate the dogs make sure that you utilize an individual crate for each dog and never crate them together. You can start off with the crates right next to each other to ease their separation from their litter. But as soon as the pups are comfortable with that arrangement, start moving the crates farther and farther apart. Ideally, the pups should be crated in separate areas of the house within a week or two of coming home from the breeder.

With hard work, littermate syndrome can be lessened. But, the steps need to be taken very early, ideally the first day the pups are removed from their litter. Certainly, avoiding the issue is the very best plan for both the dogs and the family. Having two dogs of a similar age is fun and has clear benefits. Just remember that both your life AND the dogs’ lives will be best if you avoid temptation and space those adoptions apart by at least 6 months.

Maureen Patin is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer with over 15 years of full-time professional training experience. She is the Founder and Head Trainer of What a Great Dog! Training Centers.

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Dishing Up Safe Thanksgiving Foods for Your Dog

Arden Moore — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 01:24:09 +0000

In this blog, Arden will go over foods to feed and avoid with your dog this Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is approaching, which may motivate your dog to shadow you in the kitchen. The sight and smell of special yummies can make any canine drool with delight. My dogs, Kona and Emma, love being taste testers in my kitchen.

Our dogs deserve to celebrate this feast-filled holiday with us safely and not eat something that will warrant spending Thanksgiving at an emergency veterinary clinic. Here is a quick rundown of no-no holiday foods that could cause upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea or worse, painful pancreatitis in your chowhound:

Seasoned turkey meat, skin and bones. Bones can splinter and cause a dog to choke or suffer punctures to his digestive tract.
Pumpkin pie. A slice is loaded with sugar that can cause digestive upset in dogs.
Any food with onions, chives, leeks or scallions. These foods can weaken a dog’s red blood cells, damage his mucous membranes and cause anemia.
Gravy and stuffing. These holiday food staples are loaded with high levels of fat and salt that are not tolerated in dogs.

Grr-eat news! Your dog can enjoy a safe feast and celebrate this holiday. Healthy choices include:

White turkey meat rinsed thoroughly of all seasonings
Mashed potatoes served plain
Steamed green beans minus any seasoning
Canned pumpkin. A spoonful can provide a healthy boost to a dog’s digestive system.

If you have the time and motivation, here is my Fido Thanksgiving Feast recipe I created in my best-selling book called, Real Food for Dogs available on Amazon.com:

Ingredients

1 teaspoon olive oil
½ cup plain mashed potatoes
1 egg
½ cup diced cooked turkey meat (rinsed)
½ cup chopped broccoli
1/3 cup grated cheddar cheese

Warm the olive oil in a medium-sized pan over medium heat on the stove.
In a small bowl, whisk the potatoes and egg.
Pour the potato and egg mix into the pan. Add the turkey and broccoli.
Cover the pan, reduce the heat to low, and simmer until the egg is cooked.
Top with grated cheese and let it cook for a few more minutes to allow the cheese to melt.
Let the dish cool before serving to your grateful dog. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

To occupy your dog as you prepare the feast for two-legged guest, you can grab your dog’s Kong toy or West Paws Toppl and stuff either with my recipe. Bone appetit!

— Arden Moore is the founder of Pet First Aid 4U, best-selling author of host of the Oh Behave Show on Pet Life Radio. www.ardenmoore.com.

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Frustration in Dog Training

Ryan Shaw CPDT-KA — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 15:08:36 +0000

As people, especially in this era of instant gratification, we all have a tendency to get frustrated. Our levels of frustration differ based on what we are doing and what we are trying to accomplish. When working with our dogs, we tend to get most frustrated when we believe that the behavior we’re asking for is either easy to perform or well known to the dog.

Sample Scenario: you ask your dog to perform a task, like heel, and he doesn’t, so you get frustrated. You may pull him into position and shorten your leash, to keep him in heel position. Your frustration probably continues to build because, now, there is tension in the leash (being applied by you), causing your dog to have difficulty heeling. This may result in his applying reactionary tension in the leash, causing a vicious cycle. Then you may start to use constant physical manipulation to keep him in the heel position, creating more and more frustration for you both.

What you should do at the first sign of your dog not heeling (assuming that he fully understands heeling and has been able to do it in the context that you are asking of him) is to look at what could possibly be going on to prevent him from accomplishing this seemingly easy task. Is his best buddy ahead? His favorite trainer? A treat on the floor? Needing to get outside to potty? Could you do something else to make it easier for him to be successful in this task? Focused walking with the promise of a reward?

We all would love to have our dogs learn behaviors, get those behaviors really solid in execution and not have to treat those behaviors ever again. As a trainer, I can tell you that I reward my dogs for quite a number of things, still, and my dogs are 6 and 9 years of age. I truly consider treats to be my dog’s paycheck. If I stop paying my dog for reliably responding to my behavior cues, am I still going to get the same reliable response?

So how do we refrain from getting frustrated in the first place? This is a hard question to answer, because no one, not even your dog, ever wants to be wrong or struggle with a task. We really should ask ourselves, can my dog do this task in this environment? Have I ever worked in these surroundings asking for this specific behavior? Am I certain that my dog knows what I am asking? If your answer is no to any of these questions, then your frustration should only be directed at yourself for not preparing your dog to better able to handle what you are asking of him. If you answered yes to those questions, then making it easier for your dog to complete the task will help him, and in turn will help you by eliminating frustration. Training in this way will increase your dog’s ability to perform trained behaviors, even with distractions.

The success of your dog should be first and foremost in any training session. If you are not seeing success in your sessions, you are likely moving forward in your steps faster than is appropriate for your dog. If your dog is constantly incorrect in the behaviors he is or is not offering, you’ll see the most progress by going back to where he was successful and proceeding from there.

Happy Training!

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