Q. Can I leave my dog with you to be trained?

A. This training sometimes referred to as Board And Train, Boot Camp or Sleep Away is usually not effective. The dog is being trained but not with the owner. The relationship between dog and owner has not changed. Soon after returning home the dog slides back into his old, poor behavior. Most dogs know the commands and how to perform the exercises, but persist in stealing, jumping, chewing and all the other offending activities. Exactly the kind of behavior that led their owners to seek training in the first place. I have trained dogs like this for clients who cannot physically do the lessons themselves with mixed results. Usually the client calls a couple of days after their dog returns home to thank me. They tell me how good “Fido” is and that he is like a different dog. After several weeks I call to see how things are going only to find that “Fido” has regressed. When I return for a refresher “Fido” acts like a perfect gentleman. The client remarks how well he always behaves for me. I want your dog to behave for you. Most trainers that offer this service include a lifetime guarantee. But when they return to  “fix” the dog its not certain how long it will last. Also dogs become more attached to the person that trains them. Even more so than the person that feeds them. This is why it is better for you to train your dog with the help of an experienced instructor who can explain why your dog is behaving the way he is and help provide you with solutions to change his behavior. 

Q. Some people like the idea of Dog Parks, others don't, what do you think?

A. I have mixed feelings about Dog Parks. They can be a great place to let your adult dog run and play with other dogs. My dogs and I have shared some enjoyable times with other owners and their dogs. However you must be very careful. Not all people are responsible dog owners. I have seen aggressive dogs that don’t belong there. Some owners completely ignore their dogs, and their aggressive behavior toward other dogs. Many owners have no control over their dogs. I always watch to see who is approaching and I am ready to leave at a moments notice. The mood of the dogs can change quickly when a new arrival enters the park. A new female or male entering the park can change the whole dynamics of the group. Remember dogs are pack animals and their pack instincts can take over in a group of other dogs. I do not recommend taking your young puppy to a Dog Park. You should never take a puppy to a Dog Park until he has had all his shots. Even then a bad experience at a young age could cause a puppy to become fearful, aggressive or reactive to other dogs for the rest of his life. I would recommend you try to find owners with dogs, that you know to be friendly, to socialize your young dog. Also it is your duty as your dog’s owner and leader to keep him safe. The best way to keep your dog safe is be aware of what is going on and be ready to leave if necessary. If you don’t, your dog could be injured. Or he could take matters into his own hands and begin to fight. This could diminish your standing in his eyes. And of course there are health issues. Some owners don't even pickup after their dogs. So if you have a dog park nearby and a dog with lots of energy by all means check it out, but beware of the potential for problems. I have found that times when there are only a few other dogs at the park are the best. (Back)

Q. What do you feed your dogs?

A. I am frequently asked by my clients, what is the best food to feed or how many times a day should they feed their dog. First of all puppies should be fed three times a day. They should be fed on a regular schedule. This will help with their house training. Depending on the dog and your own schedule, they could begin to be fed twice a day from about six months to a year old. I do not recommend free feeding (leaving their food down for them to graze on through out the day). This can lead to health-weight and sometimes behavior problems (with some very dominant dogs it is better to control the food). However I know some dogs that have none of these problems with free feeding. Usually you should pick up your dog's food after 10 - 20 minutes. At one year they could be fed once a day, but I don't recommend it. For years people fed their dogs once a day, but I prefer to feed my dogs twice a day. That is what I recommend. As a matter of fact my dog Sandy had IBS and I often fed her three times a day. More frequent smaller meals seemed to help. Once a day feeding can cause problems. Some dogs become so hungry that they will start to eat things that they shouldn’t. Others have a hard time eating a large quantity of food at one time. Some dogs seem to thrive on just about anything, even the cheapest brand of food. I feed my dogs a high quality natural dry food (Canidae). It may be little more expensive than what you would pay for foods found at the supermarket, but what I save on veterinary bills makes up for it. Sandy has her IBS problem and she does very well on this food. In fact she now has no problems at all. Wilson gets one ear infection after another when fed foods with grains (Food allergies cause ear infections more than anything else. The most common foods that dogs are allergic to are wheat, soy and corn. These are commonly used as fillers in cheaper foods.). There are many other quality brands out there. Everybody has their favorites and some dogs do better on certain brands. In my opinion they are all worth the extra cost. I put a dollop of quality canned food on top. They seem perfectly happy with just the dry food but I don’t mind spoiling them a little and it adds a little diversity and source of nutrition. Meat scraps from the table are great as long as they don’t have sauces and stuff on them. Especially onions. Onions are among the foods that are toxic to dogs. Also be sure to feed any scraps in their own bowl with their meal so they don’t start to beg for your food. Never feed from the table. Give your dog plenty of fresh water, especially in hot weather. Water is also important to help regulate a dog's temperature when it is hot. I give my dogs bottled water. I don’t know if there is any scientific proof to back it up but it seems to help Sandy with her IBS problem.  I believe the chlorine in tap water kills the beneficial bacteria that help dogs digest their food.  And no telling what effect flouride has. The store brand in the gallon jug is fine. I have found that a lot of dogs don’t like the taste of chlorine. Many people are amazed at how much more water their dogs drink when they come to visit.  Below are a few links about dog food.